Recent carbon sequestration dynamics in four temperate SE European peatlands using 210Pb dating

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2023-08, Vol.264, p.107208-107208, Article 107208
• Main Authors: Begy, R-Cs, Savin, C-F., Ruskál, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 210Pb dating; CAR; Carbon stocks; Growth rates; Peatlands; RERCA
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107208

The last two centuries’ anthropogenically-accelerated climatic changes and elevated atmospheric levels of CO2 are influencing the recent carbon sequestration dynamics of peatlands, resulting in high variations of growth rates, and a general ascending trend in apparent carbon accumulation rates. In the present work, 210Pb high-resolution chronologies and 137Cs alternative markers were employed to study the recent carbon-related peat properties and their evolution throughout the last two centuries in four Sphagnum-dominated bogs in SE Europe (Romania). The results revealed a recent apparent carbon accumulation rate ranging from 9.5 to 437.5 g C m−2 yr−1, with a mean value of 144 ± 90.1 g C m−2 yr−1, that yielded an average increase of 18.25% of the rate from 1950 to the present period, suggesting an enhanced contemporaneous C uptake and storage in the peatlands. The mean C storage per unit area was 17.6 ± 7.6 kg C m−2. The periods of decreased peat growth rates were identified and attributed to significant drought events at the regional scale. The results found in the present study confirm the observations and trends remarked by other researchers in the literature, and further reinforce the relevance of studying recent carbon dynamics in peatland ecosystems. The obtained 210Pb chronologies were validated by 137Cs markers, highlighting the suitability of this technique for peat profile dating. •Last two centuries' carbon dynamics in SE European peatlands.•Assessment of peat and carbon-related properties and their variability in time.•210Pb dating as a tool to assess peat chronologies.•Rising trends in the last 40 years of carbon accumulation rates.•Extreme weather events recorded in peat CAR and growth rate fluctuations.