October 2024 Wetland Knowledge Exchange Webinar - Recording

Resource Date:
2024

Dating Peat: What Lies Beneath and When It Got There

Dr. Nicole Sanderson, Assistant Professor, Geography, Université du Québec à Montréal

Radiochronology Laboratory, Geotop Research Centre

Recent and rapid changes in climate and permafrost thaw are impacting ecohydrology and carbon dynamics in high-latitude peatlands. Given that peatland and wetland conservation is a crucial nature-based climate solution, there is increasing demand for information on carbon stocks across different ecosystems (“How much carbon is in my peatland?”) as well as on accumulation rates (“Since when has carbon been accumulating? Has the rate changed over time?”). However, understanding these rapid changes on decadal to centennial scales remains challenging, partly due to historically poor dating resolution in surface peat, leading to poor predictions of future C sink potential. Our projects, focusing particularly on the last ~100-200 years, aim to improve our understanding of how carbon storage evolves with environmental shifts. By combining various radiometric dating techniques, such as radiocarbon and lead-210, we seek to better grasp the timing and magnitude of these changes. User decisions—from the choice of dating methods to data modeling—can significantly impact the interpretation of timing and scale for policy and planning purposes. Upcoming projects will also focus on wider spatial applications for radiometric data, in addition to chronologies, for peatland management, such as rapid monitoring or tracking C loss post-disturbance or post-restoration.

The Wetland Knowledge Exchange is the official voice of the Canadian and Conservation Land Management Knowledge Network's Wetland Knowledge Portal (WKP). The Wetland Knowledge Exchange aims to amplify the voice of the WKP to help increase information sharing and foster collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders interested in wetland management, conservation and reclamation. Learn about new Canadian wetland research, news, and events by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or tuning in to our monthly webinar series (or view recordings of past webinars). For more information, visit our website or contact us at wbf_bmp@ducks.ca.