Listen to the podcast.

Portentous Peatlands

PEATLANDS FORM WHEN GLACIAL LAKES FILL WITH DECOMPOSING PLANT MATTER.  THEY COMPRISE A SMALL CHUNK OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE, BUT THEY COULD HAVE A BIG EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

PASTOR: EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ONLY THREE PERCENT OF THE EARTH'S LAND AREA, THEY CONTAIN THIRTY PERCENT OF ALL THE CARBON STORED IN HUMUS AND SOIL IN THE WORLD.

THAT’S JOHN PASTOR, A BIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH.  HE SAYS THAT AS VEGETATION DECAYS, IT RELEASES POTENT GREENHOUSE GASES INTO THE AIR.

THIS PROCESS HAPPENS VERY SLOWLY IN PEATLANDS BECAUSE OF THE COLD, WET CONDITIONS. BUT GLOBAL WARMING COULD CHANGE THOSE CONDITIONS AND UNLEASH A VICIOUS CYCLE:  PASTOR EXPLAINS THAT IF PEATLANDS THAW AND DRY OUT, THE PLANT MATTER IN THEM WILL DECAY FASTER, RELEASING GOBS OF GREENHOUSE GASES INTO THE AIR. 

IT’S YET ANOTHER REASON TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING NOW.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from the Star Tribune.

Learn how to help fight global warming.

Like today's EnvironMinute podcast?  Bookmark this page on del.icio.us