Estimation of Aquatic Carbon Budgets From a Peatland Catchment Affected by Wind Farm Development in Scotland, UK

Authors:
Ben Smith, Susan Waldron, Andrew C. G. Henderson, Hugh Flowers, David Gilvear

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
carbon-budget, dissolved-organic-carbon-doc, wind-farm

Documentfile:
Smith et al 2012: Estimation of Aquatic Carbon Budgets From a Peatland Catchment Affected by Wind Farm Development in

Summary:

Theme X. Peatland carbon budgets and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes

SUMMARY

Due to their high wind yields and low agricultural value, many areas of peatland in Scotland are considered by renewable energy companies as ideal locations to build wind farm developments. Peat excavation for turbines bases, high voltage cabling and on-site road networks associated wind farm developments has the potential to disrupt the natural carbon cycling of these peatland landscapes therefore it is important to assess any environmental impact of construction activities. Research is ongoing to estimate carbon budgets from catchments affected by the construction activities associated with the Gordonbush wind farm development project, near Brora, Scotland.