Introduction to Peatlands Special Issue: Improving Hydrological Prediction in Canadian Peatlands

Abstract

Following from a session on the topic of peatland hydrology held at the 2008 conference of the Canadian Water Resources Association, this special issue collates papers on research dealing with water in peatlands in Canada. This introduction paper presents a brief overview of the importance of peatlands in Canada, the main characteristics of peatland from a water perspective, and provides the background on the main differences between bogs and fens. Recent peatland research is summarized, covering the breadth of physical hydrology of peatlands, peatland water chemistry, the effects of changes in water balance, the characteristics of marginal transition zones, bog restoration, the potential impacts of climate change, and the needs for future research.