Author(s): Maria Grodzka-Lukaszewska; Michael Manton; Tomasz Okruszko
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Peatland hydrology responds strongly to climate variability, vegetation changes, and the legacy of drainage works (Holden, 2005; Holden et al., 2004). Capturing these interactions in numerical models remains difficult because peat hydraulic conductivity is highly heterogeneous and direct measurements are limited. Laboratory and modelling studies demonstrate strong depth-dependent variability and anisotropy of peat hydraulic conductivity influencing groundwater flow (Beckwith et al., 2003a; Beckwith et al., 2003b). More broadly, peatland stability is governed by hydrological feedbacks between water-table position and peat structure (Belyea and Baird, 2006; Waddington et al., 2015). Consequently, groundwater models of peatlands often rely on coarse zoned parameterisations that smooth spatial variability and constrain calibration, limiting their usefulness for restoration planning, climate adaptation, and water retention management.
Year: 2026