Importance of water level management for peatland outflow water quality in the face of climate change and drought

Shokoufeh Salimi, Miklas Scholz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The impact of different climate scenarios, drought, and water level management on the outflow water quality of peatlands has been investigated. A mesocosm experiment has been conducted within climate control chambers to simulate current (2016–2019 real-time) and future representative concentration pathway (RCP) climate scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5). To assess the efficiency of a management strategy for improving peatland water quality, water level adjustment was applied to half of the system at the same time for each climate scenario. Furthermore, the mesocosm experienced the 2018 European drought during the simulation years, and the corresponding impact was analyzed. The results of this study revealed a substantial and favorable impact of water level management on water quality of peatlands under different climate scenarios. The effect of water level management was the largest for ammonium (NH4-N) and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and the smallest for total phosphorus (TP). Drought had a strong impact on chemical variables, increasing their concentration and deteriorating the water quality of peatland outflow. However, water level management can stabilize the nutrient levels in peatland outflows, particularly during drought and under warmer climate scenarios, thus mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75455-75470
Number of pages16
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Volume29
Issue number50
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

Keywords

  • Bog
  • Dissolved organic carbon
  • Global warming
  • Nitrogen
  • Nutrient release
  • Peat decomposition
  • Phosphorus
  • Representative concentration pathway

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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