Sleeping giant: The large climate risk of Europe's thawing peatlands

Mar 18, 2022

Aerial views over the Yamal Peninsula in Russia.

Around 75% of peatland could become too warm or too wet to maintain permafrost by the 2060s. Image: Steve Morgan/Alamy Stock Photo.

Giuliana Viglione

Contributor, Carbon Breif

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Projections of the areas with suitable climate for permafrost peatlands for the baseline period of 1961-90 (top) and four warming scenarios (from second to bottom) for 2090-99. Image: Fewster et al. (2022).

The amount of peat carbon held in permafrost peatlands located in suitable climates for palsas (top) and polygon mires (bottom). Image: Fewster et al. (2022).

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