Peatlands are important global carbon sinks that reduce human-made climate change. Increasing drought in the boreal zone, however, threatens peatlands. Droughts harm plant productivity and can trigger large carbon emissions. Little is known about how peatland plants respond to drought and how their water use drives peatland carbon uptake. We will experimentally study the impact of drought on two typical peatland types, a bog and a drained forest, located in Finland. Moreover, we will study past drought events in Finland and Sweden to understand how the water use of different peatland types is linked to carbon emissions. For that, we will use eddy-covariance and satellite techniques that monitor carbon fluxes and plant dynamics. Our results will help us to revise the role of peatland plants in land surface models to better predict peatland carbon emissions in a warmer and drier climate. Our findings will provide valuable information for policymakers to manage peatlands sustainably.

2024

2028