Modelling the Impact of Canal Blocking on Water Table Dynamics and Carbon Emissions in Drained Peatlands

Peatlands are significant carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of organic carbon in their waterlogged soils However, when they are drained for agricultural or other land-use purposes, the natural hydrological balance is disrupted. This disruption allows the soil organic carbon to decompose, leading to peat subsidence and the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere and waterways. Extensive drainage systems exacerbate this process, transforming peatlands from globally significant carbon sinks into one of the leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions from the land based sector.