Improving Hydrological Predictions in Peatlands

Whitfield, Paul H.; St-Hilaire, André; Van der Kamp, Garth

Improving Hydrological Predictions in Peatlands

2009

Whitfield, Paul H. | St-Hilaire, André | Van der Kamp, Garth

Peatlands form an important part of the Canadian landscape and of many Canadian drainage basins. While there is a considerable body of literature and existing research on peatlands, this paper presents a discussion of areas that should be considered in the future to improve hydrological predictions for drainage basins that contain a significant proportion of peatlands. The critical hydrological issues concern evapotranspiration from peatlands and the water storage and water transmission properties of peatlands as influenced by the structure and composition of peat. The transient surface and subsurface exchange of peatland water with adjacent peatlands and with the surrounding uplands is also important but difficult to characterize. A related area of research is determining how organic matter decomposes and accumulates and changes through time creating the shallow aquifer-aquitard system that is a peatland. The resulting structural differences lead to hydrological, chemical, and ecological differences that reflect the diversity and complexity of peatlands across Canada. This synthesis was informed by the contents of the present volume and the opinions of a cross-section of our colleagues.

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