Quantifying Peatland Carbon Storage with High-resolution 3D Volumetric Modeling

Author: Leah Boccignone, University of Alaska Anchorage

Poster

Video Presentation

Abstract

Peatlands are hydrologically sensitive ecosystems that serve as critical global carbon sinks, sequestering approximately 30% of global soil carbon despite covering only 3% of the Earth's land surface. In the warming Arctic, peatlands are increasingly vulnerable to hydrologic changes, which impacts their carbon dynamics. However, largely due to methods that focus on carbon change through time, the current carbon storage estimations vary widely at local, regional, and global scales. To help bridge this knowledge gap, this study quantifies the carbon stock of the Välisuo peatland in northern Finland - a site currently undergoing hydrologic restoration - using a novel multi-method approach that integrates hydrology, geophysics, and remote sensing. This study combined high-density manual probing measurements, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and drone-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) into a high-resolution 3D subsurface model via Ordinary Kriging interpolation, allowing for volumetric calculations that account for subsurface structure and surface topography. Peat sediment core and stable water isotope analyses were employed to complete the carbon stock estimation and characterize regional hydrology. The results yield a carbon mass estimate of 9,338.50 ± 1,585.17 t C, a value approximately five times higher than previously predicted. This finding, along with the notable differences in performance between the high-resolution GPR data compared to the manual probing data, suggests that traditional methods may significantly underestimate the carbon stored in peatland reservoirs. As the Arctic regions face accelerating hydroclimate shifts, this multi-method workflow offers a scalable framework for refining regional carbon budgets and improving the management of northern water-carbon reservoirs.

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