Decadal changes in the type and extent of Wetlands in Alaska using L-band SAR data — A preliminary analysis

Northern peatlands are estimated to hold about 30 % of the total global pool of soil carbon or 13 % of the total terrestrial carbon in the biosphere [1]. The warmer, drier conditions being experienced throughout the Arctic appear to be accelerating both aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of northern peatland soils, thereby increasing emissions of methane (CH
₄
) and carbon dioxide (CO
₂
) [2]. If continued, this trend could cause northern peatlands to become major sources of atmospheric carbon, with existing models predicting large increases in CH
₄
emissions as CO
₂
levels continue to rise [3]. To better understand sources, sinks, and net fluxes of atmospheric CO
₂
and CH
₄
validated high-resolution maps of the extent and distribution of northern wetlands are needed [4].