MoorLIFE 2020 reports

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Here is a list of research papers published as part of MoorLIFE 2020.  Scroll down to find a list of scientific reports produced as part of MoorLIFE2020.

Trajectories of ecosystem change in restored blanket peatlands

Highlights: Ecosystem services show phased recovery following restoration in eroded peatlands. Re-vegetation is key to reporting project success over short funding timeframes. Results support wide-scale adoption of Lime-Seed-Fertiliser-Mulch restoration.

Restoration of blanket peat moorland delays stormflow from hillslopes and reduces peak discharge

Highlights: Re-vegetation of bare peat leads to significant reductions in depth to water table. Re-vegetation reduced peak storm flows by 27% and increases lag times by 106% from experimental headwater micro-catchments in the South Pennines (UK). Gully blocking enhances the benefits of re-vegetation. Increased surface roughness is the key driver of runoff change. Peat restoration can contribute to Natural Flood Management and reduce downstream flood risk.

Controls on the spatial distribution of natural pipe outlets in heavily degraded blanket peat

Highlights: Pipe outlets mostly occur on streambank edges parallel to the stream. At gully head retreat points, pipe outlets are large and close to the surface. Aspect is a strong control on pipe outlet frequency in degraded blanket bog. Pipe outlet frequency is associated with desiccation on gully edges.

Effects of pipe outlet blocking on hydrological functioning in a degraded blanket peatland

Highlights:

• gully edge pipes contributed 11% of gully stream flow
• pipes with headward retreat positions produced larger peak flows and larger storm contributions to streamflow than pipes that exited from straight gully edges
• water tables exhibited a distance-decay effect, becoming deeper the closer to the outlet of pipes exiting from straight gully edges
• the use of plugs or impermeable barriers to block pipe flow resulted in the formation of new outlets or seepage around the block within 90 days

This investigation concluded that impeding flow at pipe outlets exacerbates further pipe formation but that surface storage structures should be prioritised higher up the pipe network.

Aquatic carbon concentrations and fluxes in a degraded blanket peatland with piping and pipe outlet blocking

Highlights:

• both pre- and post-blocking, maximum concentrations of DOC and POC were markedly higher in pipe-water than stream-water
• pipe outlet blocking was probably ineffective in reducing fluvial carbon export from pipe networks
• pipes need to be considered when seeking to reduce fluvial carbon export in degraded blanket peatlands

Blanket-peat restoration: numerical study of the underlying processes delivering Natural Flood Management benefits in Water Resources Research

Highlights:

• There is a lack of clear understanding regarding the individual effects of revegetation and gully-blocking on Natural Flood Management benefits such as delay and reduced flood peaks.
• Modelling by University of Newcastle (David Milledge and Salim Goudarzi) confirms that during the largest storms these benefits are primarily due to surface roughness slowing overland flow. However the impact of gully blocking is significant and similar in magnitude.
• During smaller events, the effects of interception, ponding and evapotranspiration are more important.