Chapter 2 Northern Peatlands: their characteristics, development and sensitivity to climate change

Abstract

Publisher Summary Peatlands are widespread in the landscape of the northern circumpolar area and are associated with the cool to very cool climates occurring in the Arctic, Subarctic, Boreal and northern Temperate regions of North America and the equivalent regions of Eurasia, the Polar Desert and Tundra, Forest–Tundra, Taiga, and Temperate Forest. The southern limits of these regions coincide approximately with 40˚N latitude in North America and 50˚N latitude in Eurasia. The physiography of this region varies from rugged mountains to well-worn-down hills and lowlands. Permafrost is common throughout this region, except for the northern Temperate and Temperate Forest regions, although not all northern peatlands are perennially frozen. Russia has the largest area of peatlands of all the northern circumpolar countries with the world's largest peatland being the West Siberian mire massif and the largest in Europe the Polistovo-Lovatsky mire in northern Russia.