$10.5 million Bog study turns up the heat!

A $10.5 million study in Minnesota is probing how some of Earth’s most sensitive ecosystems — in this case, carbon-rich peatlands — will respond to climate change.

“Although they cover just 3% of Earth’s surface, peatlands contain roughly one-third of the planet’s terrestrial carbon stores. As temperatures rise, bogs are expected to release more carbon, contributing to even greater warming.”

The decade-long study will utilize ten octagonal enclosures (each 12m wide, 8m high) to determine how peatlands will react to a changing climate.  “Half of the enclosures have carbon dioxide gas wafting into them at concentrations of 900 parts per million — more than twice that of today’s atmosphere.”