Background
The Canadian Model for Peatlands (CaMP) was developed as a framework for estimating national greenhouse gas emissions and removals in Canadian peatlands and to integrate with the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector. Therefore, this model can be used for national scale estimates of peatland carbon and greenhouse gas, including their response to disturbance. CaMP models addition of carbon into the peatland via plant growth and then tracks the turnover and decay of litter as it moves into the peat profile. Carbon is emitted as both carbon dioxide and methane depending on water table position and peatland type. Disturbance effects can be integrated through disturbance matrices that prescribe how carbon stocks in the plant and soil pools are affected by the disturbance; however, implementation of disturbance matrices is still in early stages.
Activity Outline
By using data from other Can-Peat activities and from collaborators, this activity will improve:
- Representation of net primary productivity and its controls
- Calibration of the methane flux module by evaluating current functions and improving them as needed
- Validation of fire and oil sands disturbance matrices and development of disturbance matrices for other disturbance types