The Development of the methodical approach for the estimation of carbon stocks in peat deposits of West Siberia

Abstract

The aim of the study. Development of the methodical approach to the estimation of carbon stocks in peat deposits of West Siberia, based on the analysis of available published and archived materials, allowing rapid reassessment of carbon stocks once new data is acquired.

Methods. Analysis of published data on carbon content and methodical approaches to the estimation of carbon stocks in swamp ecosystems of West Siberia. Processing the data contained in “Tomsk region peat deposits inventory” and detailed archived materials on specific deposits to validate the existing and to develop a new optimal approach to the estimation of carbon stocks in peat deposits of West Siberia.

Results. The lack of representative data on C_org content in West Siberian peats is revealed. The authors demonstrate the necessity to revisit current estimations of peat density and C_org  as averaged over different types of swamps with the aim to improve and optimize estimations of carbon stocks in the swamps of the region. New method, based on the data in region inventories and detailed archived materials of geological surveys in West Siberia, is suggested to assess carbon stocks in peat deposits. The algorithm, taking into account all the information available, is also presented.

Conclusions. To optimize and refine the estimation of carbon stocks in peat deposits of West Siberia it is necessary to carry out large-scale analytic research using a unified method and to develop an open database of C_org content in organic matter of different peat types, determining for the high-ash fen peats the non-organic carbon content. Methodical approach is suggested to estimate carbon stocks based on using most of the data, available in regional inventories and archived materials of geological surveys in order to enhance the quality of estimation.