Effects of decomposition on the compressibility of fibrous peat — A review

Peat deposits are comprised of high organic content substances primarily derived from dead plant vegetation. Peat itself is not inert but undergoes continuous biological decomposition that causes progressive destruction of the peat fabric, reductions in fibre and organic contents and biogas generation. Depending on the degree of decomposition, the organic solids can exist as fresh (intact) fibres, slightly decomposed or ultimately completely decomposed (amorphous) material. From a geotechnical perspective, an understanding of the relationship between degree of decomposition and engineering properties, including the level of compressibility, is important in dealing with such problematic deposits. However a review of the literature indicates that such relationships have not been sufficiently investigated. Moreover, potential impacts of uncontrolled or unexpected decomposition in-situ are regularly discounted in geotechnical practice. This paper reviews decomposition effects in peat and potentially significant knock-on effects in terms of the material’s physical properties and compressibility. Progressive reduction in solids volume and deterioration in the integrity of the organic structure due to on-going decomposition may cause significant additional settlement to occur over time. More decomposed peat generally undergoes lower primary consolidation and creep strains and is also less prone to future decomposition, compared with lesser decomposed peat.     

The influence of vegetation composition on peat humification: implications for palaeoclimatic studies

Peat humification analysis is a widely used palaeoclimate proxy. However, recent studies combining humification with other proxies of mire surface wetness have identified inconsistencies between the records. We illustrate this inconsistency by comparing humification records with plant macrofossil profiles in three ombrotrophic bogs. Peat humification is a measure for organic decay and reflects changing palaeohydrological conditions and former vegetation composition. The resulting signal is considered to be a derived response to climate. However, even minor changes in the botanical composition of the peat may have a significant influence on humification measurements. The implications of this for palaeoclimate studies are discussed. The assumption that climate has been the major influence on variations in humification rests on the botanical composition being relatively homogeneous throughout the peat profile, and is therefore questionable. Consideration should be given to developing species-specific measures of humification and to testing the assumption that the major influence on peat humification is the surface wetness of the bog (and therefore climate).     

中国泥炭资源

泥炭的形成和发展,直接受地表水热条件控制,后者又取决于形成时期的气候、地质。地貌及水文地质条件。文中据大量调查资料,叙述中国6个区的泥炭分布,扼要分析若干类型泥炭分布特征。在受河流活动控制并有泥炭形成的地区,泥炭沼泽分布呈现干流区少、支流区多,下游区少、上游区多的特点;在巨型构造湖盆区,泥炭沼泽可充分发展,形成泥炭层厚、空间展布广的巨型矿床;火山口湖盆型、堰塞湖盆型泥炭沼泽环境稳定,历经长期发育,可形成厚达9．0～9．5m的矿床;平原区湖盆型、河漫滩型泥炭,形成时受洪水事件影响,产出多层、较薄的泥炭。80年代本原地质矿产部通过对中国30个地质矿产局调查报告（未含台湾省）系统分析研究,获全国泥炭资源量46．87亿t（千重）。文中据国际泥炭学会（IPS）规定,按含水40％容重核算,1998年获资源量124．96亿t,证实中国泥炭资源分布的不平衡性,质量属中等,与泥炭资源丰富的国家相比,中国泥炭资源是较丰富的。     

Investigation of failures in Irish raised bogs

This paper presents the results of field geophysical testing and laboratory testing of peat from Carn Park and Roosky raised bogs in the Irish Midlands. The motivation for the work was highlight the importance of these areas and to begin to attempt to understand the reasons for the failure of the bogs despite them having surface slopes of some 1°. It was found that the peat is typical of that of Irish raised bogs being up to 8 m thick towards the “high” dome of the bogs. The peat is characterised by low density, high water content, high organic content, low undrained shear strength and high compressibility. The peat is also relatively permeable at in situ stress. Geophysical electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar data shows a clear thinning of the peat in the area of the failures corresponding to a reduction in volume from dewatering by edge drains/peat harvesting. This finding is supported by detailed water content measurements. It was also shown that the peat base topography is relatively flat and indicates that the observed surface movement has come from within the peat rather than from the material below the peat. Potential causes of the failures include conventional slope instability, the effect of seepage forces or the release of built-up gas in the peat mass. Further measurements are required in order to study these in more detail.     

Peat/coal type and depositional environment—are they related?

Four bogs in New Zealand were investigated in order to understand the relationship between peat type and depositional environment. This relationship is important because peat type translates into coal type, and coal types can ultimately be used to infer how and under what conditions the original peat bog formed. In our study, no correlation was found between peat type and depositional environment in the four bogs examined. Moreover, no correlation was found between peat type and either tectonic setting or climate. Water table level and degree of fluctuation are the only parameters which seem to have a good causative relationship on peat type.The bogs, Whangamarino, Moanatuatua and Kopouatai in the North Island and Sponge Swamp in the South Island, all have different depositional settings ranging from coastal plain, to fluvial-meandering and fluvial-braided river floodplain. We found no diagnostic peat types that would allow those different environments to be distinguished from studies of the peat. Data from other tropical and temperate climate peat bogs also support our contention that no diagnostic peat types can distinguish particular depositional settings. However, the level and variability of water table does have a correlation, one that is also seen in bogs elsewhere.From our observations, we infer that the validity of using maceral ratios (directly related to coal type) to indicate depositional environment should be questioned. At best, coal type only represents to what degree the original plant components were degraded, but not how they were degraded. To infer other parameters such as depositional environment, tectonic setting or climate, other data (e.g. distribution of surrounding sediment types, palynology, etc.) must be collected and assessed.     

Age, origin and development of blanket mires in Sør-Trøndelag, Central Norway

Pollen analysis, ¹⁴C datings and peat stratigraphy from blanket mires overlying two of the six drumlins in the Momyr area NW of the Trondheimsfjord in Sør-Trøndelag county are presented in order to trace the peat development and vegetational history. ¹⁴C datings of the mineral soil/peat transition in 9 of the II profiles indicate that peat formation started about 7,800 years ago on the drumlin plateaux which at that time had a vegetation of scattered birch trees. From the plateaux the peat formation spread slowly down the slopes. Eventually, the mire surface bore a cover of pines which disappeared about 4,900 years ago, at the same time as peat formation commenced at the foot of the drumlins. This was probably a result of a change in the water table and onset of erosion in the already existing peat on the drumlin plateaux. During a period of about 1,000 years this new peat buried a dense birch vegetation existing at the lower part of the drumlins. Peat growth then spread upslope, and the drumlins' overall blanket of peat was completed well before the Subatlantic chronozone.     

A holocene zinc orebody formed by supergene replacement of mosses

An extensive deposit of secondary zinc minerals has been formed at Howard's Pass, Yukon by replacement of mosses and as a cement within talus. The deposits are of Holocene age (younger than 9610 yr. B.P.) and occur in blanket peat bogs percolated by zinc-rich springwaters. Buried moss strata undergo cell by cell replacement forming zincian clacite, smithsonite and hemimorphite. The last is the most important secondary mineral in both mosses and talus.     

Formation of Lower and Middle Jurassic Coaliferous Sequences in the Northern Caucasus

Pliensbachian coaliferous sequences were formed along the southern margin of the Stavropol Uplift in various paleogeographic environments. Therefore, peat bogs are developed in various landscape zones. In the southern Kuban coaliferous district, which adjoins the tectonically active central Caucasus, coaliferous sediments were formed in river valleys, whereas peat bogs were developed in swamped valleys. In the northern Kuban and Baksan coaliferous districts situated away from this region, coaliferous sediments were formed under conditions of alluvial–deltaic and alluvial–lacustrine plains. Peat bogs were localized in the swamped alluvial–deltaic and alluvial–lacustrine plains. In the Laba–Urup and southeastern Baksan coaliferous districts situated far away from the tectonically active central Caucasus and dominated by partly isolated bays and lagoons (or coastal plains), peat bogs were formed in the swamped (partly isolated) bays and lagoons (or coastal plains). Similar environments of sedimentation and peat deposition were typical of the Daghestan coaliferous district in the early Aalenian and Bathonian of Middle Jurassic.     

Elemental and isotopic carbon and nitrogen records of organic matter accumulation in a Holocene permafrost peat sequence in the East European Russian Arctic

A peat deposit from the East European Russian Arctic, spanning nearly 10 000 years, was investigated to study soil organic matter degradation using analyses of bulk elemental and stable isotopic compositions and plant macrofossil remains. The peat accumulated initially in a wet fen that was transformed into a peat plateau bog following aggradation of permafrost in the late Holocene (～2500 cal a BP). Total organic carbon and total nitrogen (N) concentrations are higher in the fen peat than in the moss‐dominated bog peat layers. Layers in the sequence that have lower concentrations of total hydrogen (H) are associated with degraded vascular plant residues. C/N and H/C atomic ratios indicate better preservation of organic matter in peat material dominated by bryophytes as opposed to vascular plants. The presence of permafrost in the peat plateau stage and water‐saturated conditions at the bottom of the fen stage appear to lead to better preservation of organic plant material. δ¹⁵N values suggest N isotopic fractionation was driven primarily by microbial decomposition whereas differences in δ¹³C values appear to reflect mainly changes in plant assemblages. Positive shifts in both δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values coincide with a local change to drier conditions as a result of the onset of permafrost and frost heave of the peat surface. This pattern suggests that permafrost aggradation not only resulted in changes in vegetation but also aerated the underlying fen peat, which enhanced microbial denitrification, causing the observed ¹⁵N‐enrichment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

9000 years of changes in peat organic matter composition in Store Mosse (Sweden) traced using FTIR-ATR

Store Mosse (the ‘Great Bog’ in Swedish) is one of the most extensive bog complexes in southern Sweden (~77 km²), where pioneering palaeoenvironmental research has been carried out since the early 20th century. This includes, for example, vegetation changes, carbon and nitrogen dynamics, peat decomposition, atmospheric metal pollution, mineral dust deposition, dendrochronology, and tephrochronology. Even though organic matter (OM) represents the bulk of the peat mass and its compositional change has the potential to provide crucial ecological information on bog responses to environmental factors, peat OM molecular composition has not been addressed in detail. Here, a 568-cm-deep peat sequence was studied at high resolution, by attenuated reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) in the mid-infrared region (4000–400 cm^–1). Principal components analysis was performed on selected absorbances and change-point modelling was applied to the records to determine the timing of changes. Four components accounted for peat composition: (i) depletion/accumulation of labile (i.e. carbohydrates) and recalcitrant (i.e. lignin and other aromatics, aliphatics, organic acids and some N compounds) compounds, due to peat decomposition; (ii) variations in N compounds and carbohydrates; (iii) residual variation of lignin and organic acids; and (iv) residual variation of aliphatic structures. Peat decomposition showed two main patterns: a long-term trend highly correlated to peat age (r = 0.87), and a short-term trend, which showed five main phases of increased decomposition (at ~8.4–8.1, ~7.0–5.6, ~3.5–3.1, ~2.7–2.1 and ~1.6–1.3 ka) – mostly corresponding to drier climate and its effect on bog hydrology. The high peat accumulation event (~5.6–3.9 ka), described in earlier studies, is characterized by the lowest degree of peat decomposition of the whole record. Given that FTIR-ATR is a quick, non-destructive, cost-effective technique, our results indicate that it can be applied in a systematic way (including multicore studies) to peat research and provide relevant information on the evolution of peatlands.     

Effects of peat compaction on delta evolution: A review on processes,responses, measuring and modeling

Peat is most compressible of all natural soils. Compaction of peat layers potentially leads to substantial amounts of land subsidence. Peat is common in many distal parts of Holocene deltas, which are often densely populated. It is known that land subsidence due to peat compaction may have serious societal implications in such areas, as it may cause damage to construction works and lead to land inundation. Effects of peat compaction on the natural evolution of deltas are however poorly understood, whereas this might be an important control on delta evolution at both local and regional scales.The main objective of this paper is to review current knowledge concerning the peat compaction process and its effect on delta evolution in Holocene settings, and to identify gaps in this knowledge. An overview is given regarding: 1) the compaction process, 2) presumed and potential effects of peat compaction on delta evolution, 3) field methods to quantify peat compaction and 4) numerical models to calculate the amount and rate of peat compaction.Peat compaction and formation influence channel belt elevation, channel belt geometry and channel belt configuration. Last-mentioned aspect mostly concerns the influence of peat compaction on avulsion, which is one of the most important processes controlling delta evolution. Interactions between peat compaction, peat formation and avulsion have seldom been studied and remain unclear, partly because factors such as peat type, organic matter content, sediment sequence composition and groundwater table fluctuation are so far not taken into account. Peat compaction and formation potentially influence avulsion as 1) a decrease in accommodation space created by peat compaction underneath a channel causes superelevation and/or an increase in lateral migration, 2) the high cohesiveness of peat banks inhibits lateral migration, which increases bed aggradation, decreases sediment transport capacity and hence increases crevassing frequencies, which possibly evolve into an avulsion, although the low regional gradient in peatlands will hinder this, and 3) peat compaction and oxidation in flood basins following groundwater table lowering leads to relief amplification of channel belts. At delta scale, variations in compaction rates might stimulate the occurrence of nodal avulsions.To quantify effects of peat compaction on delta evolution, and to determine the relative importance of different factors involved, field research should be combined with numerical models describing peat compaction and formation. The model should be validated and calibrated with field data.     

Vegetation history of a polygonal peatland, northern, Yukon

Pollen, macrofossils and matrix composition are described for a 221 cm core from a polygonal peatland overlying a late-Wisconsin lakebed. A hydroseral succession of wetland communities occurred at the site, and included a submerged assemblage with Chara , a Carex aquatilis - Eleocharis marsh, a fen, and finally a Sphagnum - Ledum bog. A transition about 9,600 B.P. to a wetter S. balticum - Andromeda carpet is attributed to formation of permaforst and polygonal ice wedges. This community, sometimes with S. compactum and Chamaedaphne , prevailed until about 3,000 B.P. when the polygon became high centered, and peat growth declined. Peat growth rate is determined from 11 ¹⁴C dates, and is used to calculate pollen influx. Apparent periodic oscillations every 2,000 years, in total influx, are not accepted as sufficient evidence of treeline fluctuations.     

Peatland dynamics in a complex landscape: Development of a fen‐bog complex in the Sporadic Discontinuous Permafrost zone of northern Alberta,Canada

Bauer, I. E. & Vitt, D. H. 2011: Peatland dynamics in a complex landscape: Development of a fen‐bog complex in the Sporadic Discontinuous Permafrost zone of northern Alberta, Canada. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2011.00210.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. The development of a peatland complex in the Sporadic Discontinuous Permafrost zone of northwestern Alberta, Canada was reconstructed using a series of dated profiles. Peat‐forming communities first established c. 10 230 cal. a BP, and by 8000 cal. a BP the site supported monocot fens or marshes in several isolated topographic depressions. Most of the current peatland area initiated between c. 8000 and 4000 cal. a BP, and involved the replacement of upland habitats by shrubby or treed fen and, in some areas, the establishment of Sphagnum on mineral terrain. Ombrotrophic hummock communities had established by c. 7000 cal. a BP, and permafrost was present at 6800 cal. a BP in at least some peat plateau areas. Macrofossil‐based reconstructions show considerable local diversity in vegetation succession and permafrost dynamics, with cyclic collapse and aggradation in at least one profile and relative stability in others. Lichen‐rich peat is rare in deep‐peat plateau cores, and where charcoal was recovered, fire effects on vegetation trajectories varied between cores. Organic matter accumulation was high in the early Holocene and declined after permafrost formation, with low rates especially over the past 4000 years. The site was burned in a wildfire in 1971, and by 1998 permafrost had disappeared from almost all peat plateau areas. In this part of the discontinuous permafrost zone, peat plateaus are likely to be unsustainable under a warming climate. The hydrology and carbon dynamics of former plateau areas following large‐scale permafrost degradation require further investigation.     

浅钻技术在若尔盖地区泥炭调查中的应用

泥炭是一种具有多种用途的宝贵自然资源,泥炭中的有机碳储量是研究全球碳库变化及碳循环过程的重要参数。由于泥炭多分布于沼泽中,且泥炭松软含水量大的特性,对于泥炭深度的调查、获取用于测试泥炭原状样品的质量不高,导致泥炭碳储量评价仍存在不确定性和偏差。笔者等在典型泥炭形成地若尔盖沼泽湿地地区,开展了浅钻泥炭调查取样工作,通过在泥炭斑块边缘及中心两种不同沼泽湿地地层开展的试验,验证了轻便钻机在难进入的沼泽湿地的适应性,配套的振动冲击工艺可高质量的获得无扰动的泥炭样品,同时查明了泥炭层的厚度。通过试验初步探索了采用轻便钻机配套振动冲击钻进工艺进行泥炭调查取样的有效性。浅层取样钻探作为泥炭调查取样的一种直接有效的技术手段,可以有效地提高泥炭调查效率和精度,为准确评价泥炭储量数据提供可靠的钻探技术服务支撑。     

早期煤化作用机制与有机质早期成烃演化

近年来，未熟和低熟油气田的发现、生物气藏的勘探和开发，极大地促进了对有机质早期转变的研究；而有机质早期转变机制的正确认识对于煤和干酪根中显微组分的成因、后期热演化都有着重要的影响。对早期煤化作用机制和有机质早期成烃作用的研究现状、进展及存在的问题进行了综述。     

泥炭沼泽的演化及其机制

泥炭沼泽的演化普遍存在,演化的实质是在成因因素有利的配合下,沼泽植物群落发生了变化乃至更替。根据泥炭植物残体分析和煤层的煤岩、煤化学研究,可以了解泥炭沼泽的演化和形成煤层的原始泥炭沼泽的演化。      

浅钻技术在若尔盖地区泥炭调查中的应用

泥炭是一种具有多种用途的宝贵自然资源,泥炭中的有机碳储量是研究全球碳库变化及碳循环过程的重要参数。由于泥炭多分布于沼泽中,且泥炭松软含水量大的特性,对于泥炭深度的调查、获取用于测试泥炭原状样品的质量不高,导致泥炭碳储量评价仍存在不确定性和偏差。笔者等在典型泥炭形成地若尔盖沼泽湿地地区,开展了浅钻泥炭调查取样工作,通过在泥炭斑块边缘及中心两种不同沼泽湿地地层开展的试验,验证了轻便钻机在难进入的沼泽湿地的适应性,配套的振动冲击工艺可高质量的获得无扰动的泥炭样品,同时查明了泥炭层的厚度。通过试验初步探索了采用轻便钻机配套振动冲击钻进工艺进行泥炭调查取样的有效性。浅层取样钻探作为泥炭调查取样的一种直接有效的技术手段,可以有效地提高泥炭调查效率和精度,为准确评价泥炭储量数据提供可靠的钻探技术服务支撑。     

Malaysian Experiences of Peat Stabilization,State of the Art

Peat has been considered as an organics remnant that suffers decomposition process throughout times under overburden pressure. Composition of peats normally consists of organics materials which sometimes exceed 75% specifically from woods that grows in marshes and places in conditions where deficiencies of oxygen exist. Usually peat area related with swampy and normally a low shear strength region. High compressibility is significant and often related to problematic soil for construction purposes. In this article, extensive number of studies are reviewed to understand the behavior of the peat after being stabilized. New findings indicated that the peat contents differs from one location to another, thus inevitably gives different behavior. Many improvisation methods have been put forward such as chemical stabilization, cement stabilization, deep mixing and fiber reinforcement to name a few to enhance the strength properties of the peat. This is mainly for construction reliability purposes. However, the suitability of the ground improvement for peat thus depend on its fundamental properties and cost involve for any dedicated ground construction work. This paper review the properties of peat in Malaysia and reviewed recent development in the peaty soil stabilization in Malaysia. It is also compared the materials used for the peat stabilization and the expansive clay soils as the main two problematic soils.     

Some peculiarities of holocene processes in Western SiberiaZur holozängeschichte der westsibirischen torfmooreQuelques singuliarités des processus holocènes sur le territoire de la Sibérie occidentale

The authors deal with problems of the origin of peat in the territory of the West Siberian Lowland where Holocene processes are sufficiently widespread to be representative of this world-wide phenomenon. Here, for example, are found the most extensive peat bogs of the Earth. The authors deal with the stratigraphy of these peat bogs and the reconstruction of Holocene conditions in the West Siberian Lowland. The development of peat bogs has considerably modified landscape features since the retreat of the last glaciation, i.e., during the last 10,000 to 11,000 years. The peat bogs began to develop simultaneously in thousands of depressions after the ice cover had melted. Later they merged into vast peaty bog regions. Without any intervention by man the peat bogs will cover all of Western Siberia in the course of several thousands of years. The development of extensive peat bogs is due to an irregular advance of floods on Siberian rivers which leads to a rise in the water level on tributaries of great rivers and to a retardation of the discharge of flood waves In the conclusion the authors point to the problems of economic use of swampy regions and to questions of land reclamation that must be answered before economic use of the territory (mainly in connection with extensive oil and gas deposits in these regions) can be fully effective.