Weathering below Irish blanket bogs and impacts on carbon dynamics

Data show no significant difference in major ion fluxes between more intact and degraded catchments in two of the study locations: Garron and Cuilcagh. In the third location, Letterunshin, fluxes were greater in the degraded catchment compared to the intact, however, this was as a result of increased upwelling of groundwater, rather than an influence of higher weathering rates. The most significant influence on base flow runoff chemistry is the composition of the substrate material.

The same is true for CO2 consumption values. Good quality peatland does not result in greater CO2 consumption values compared to those areas where degradation has occurred.<br><br>Despite this, substrate weathering in these catchments is consuming atmospheric carbon, in both the long and short term. Short term (<3ka) carbon consumption is comparable to values from Alpine catchments where weathering rates are high.

In the long term (>3ka) carbon consumption is more limited due to the significance of carbonate weathering in these locations.<br><i><br></i><br>