What is the science behind Peat Bog restoration as a CO2 capture mechanism? How is effectiveness of actual projects typically measured?/Measurement Methods

This page is part of the research tree for [[../|Peat Bog restoration as a CO₂ capture mechanism]]. See the [[../Research Plan|Research Plan]] for the full research approach.

Planned Content

This page will survey how CO₂ capture and avoided emissions from restoration projects are actually measured and verified:

Eddy covariance flux towers (gold standard, continuous NEE measurement)
Static chamber measurements (CH₄ and CO₂)
Water table depth as a proxy for emission factors (Peatland Code methodology)
Vegetation condition assessments (species composition, Sphagnum cover)
Satellite/remote sensing (peat surface motion via InSAR, moisture indices, vegetation indices)
Carbon accounting models (IPCC Tier 1–3 approaches)
Peat depth and carbon stock measurement (direct coring)
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) / aquatic carbon flux measurement

For each method: accuracy, cost, scalability, minimum requirements for carbon credit verification, and UK Peatland Code vs international voluntary carbon market standards (Verra, Gold Standard).

Key sources to consult: UK Peatland Code methodology, UK GHG Inventory, Evans et al. (Defra report, 2017), IPCC 2014 Wetlands Supplement, Bonn et al. (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Artz et al. (CXC/UKCEH, 2019).

Planned Content

See Also