Unravelling past impacts of climate change and land management on historic peatland development using proxy-based reconstruction, monitoring data and process modelling

The study compares TA-based reconstructions of water-table depth (WTD) against instrumentally monitored data and MILLENNIA model predictions. While monitored and modelled WTD showed strong agreement, TA reconstructions were consistently deeper. The research suggests that discrepancies between TA predictions and model outputs, particularly between 1830 and 1930, may be explained by grouse moor management and drainage, which lead to predicted carbon losses and reduced methane emissions.

• Comparing different methods of water-table depth (WTD) estimation revealed that while instrumentally monitored WTD and MILLENNIA model predictions agreed well, TA-reconstructed WTD was consistently deeper.
• A comparison of offset-corrected TA reconstructions and MILLENNIA model predictions from 1750 to 1931 showed similar overall patterns, but TA predictions underestimated WTD (appearing drier) from 1830 to 1930 and overestimated WTD (appearing wetter) from 1760 to 1830.
• Simulated grouse moor management, specifically drainage, may account for the drier WTD predictions in TA records, which the model suggests results in significant carbon losses and a reduction in methane emissions.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2018). Unravelling past impacts of climate change and land management on historic peatland development using proxy-based reconstruction, monitoring data and process modelling. https://www.sei.org/publications/unravelling-past-impacts-climate-change-land-management-historic-peatland-development-using-proxy-based-reconstruction-monitoring-data-process-modelling/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Unravelling past impacts of climate change and land management on historic peatland development using proxy-based reconstruction, monitoring data and process modelling. 2018. https://www.sei.org/publications/unravelling-past-impacts-climate-change-land-management-historic-peatland-development-using-proxy-based-reconstruction-monitoring-data-process-modelling/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Unravelling past impacts of climate change and land management on historic peatland development using proxy-based reconstruction, monitoring data and process modelling |date=8 May 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/unravelling-past-impacts-climate-change-land-management-historic-peatland-development-using-proxy-based-reconstruction-monitoring-data-process-modelling/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2018unravelling, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Unravelling past impacts of climate change and land management on historic peatland development using proxy-based reconstruction, monitoring data and process modelling}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/unravelling-past-impacts-climate-change-land-management-historic-peatland-development-using-proxy-based-reconstruction-monitoring-data-process-modelling/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }