Parry, L. , West, L. J., Holden, J. and Chapman, P. J. (2014) Evaluating approaches for estimating peat depth. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 119(4), pp. 567-576. (doi: 10.1002/2013JG002411)
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Abstract
Estimates of peat depth are required to inform understanding of peatland development, functioning, and ecosystem services such as carbon storage. However, there is a considerable lack of peat depth data at local, national, and global scales. Recent studies have attempted to address this knowledge deficit by using manual probing and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to estimate depth. Despite increasing application, little consideration has been given to the accuracy of either of these techniques. This study examines the accuracy of probing and GPR for measuring peat depth. Corresponding GPR and probing surveys were carried out at a catchment scale in a blanket peatland. GPR depth estimations, calibrated using common midpoint (CMP) surveys, were found to be on average 35% greater than probe measurements. The source of disagreement was found to be predominantly caused by depth probes becoming obstructed by artifacts within the peat body, although occasionally probing rods also penetrated sediments underlying the peat. Using the Complex Refractive Index Model, it was found that applying a single velocity of 0.036 m ns−1 across a single site may also result in −8 to +17% error in estimation of peat depth due to spatial variability in water content and porosity. It is suggested that GPR calibrated at each site using CMP surveys may provide a more accurate method for measuring peat depth.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Parry, Dr Lauren |
| Authors: | Parry, L., West, L. J., Holden, J., and Chapman, P. J. |
| College/School: | College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences |
| Publisher: | American Geophysical Union |
| ISSN: | 2169-8953 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2169-8961 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2014 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 119(4):567-576 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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