EGU General Assembly 2007

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	Quick Search Title + Author Title Author Abstract Number Schedule Number Programme Groups Great Debates Union Symposia Educational Symposia Atmospheric Sciences Biogeosciences Climate: Past, Present, Future Cryospheric Sciences Energy, Resources and the Environment Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology Geodesy Geodynamics Geomorphology Geosciences Instrumentation and Data Systems Hydrological Sciences Isotopes in Geosciences: Instrumentation and Applications Magnetism, Palaeomagnetism, Rock Physics & Geomaterials Natural Hazards Nonlinear Processes in Geosciences Ocean Sciences Planetary and Solar System Sciences Seismology Soil System Sciences Solar-Terrestrial Sciences Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology Tectonics and Structural Geology Medal Lectures EGU Short Courses Keynote Lectures Townhall Meetings Division Business Meetings Editorial Board Meetings Union Meetings Splinter Meetings Forums   Information - SSS4 Organic soils, processes, mechanisms and utilization (co-listed in BG) Event Information The aim of this session is to discuss the processes, mechanisms and utilization of organic soils: peatlands (fens and raised bogs), mires, and gyttja as well as mucks. Peat formation is strongly influenced by climatic conditions and topography. Carbon stored in peatlands represents one quarter of the world soils carbon pool, and up to 70% of carbon stored in biotic systems. Thus peatlands potentially play a major part in climate control. Despite global concern about climate change, the degradation of peatlands is not yet recognized as part of the problem. All over the world, peatlands are degrading. Long-term intensive cultivation and agricultural use of peatlands leads to the degradation and mineralization of peat organic matter and initiates the moorshing process. These practices result in subsidence and soil compaction as well as in peat losses through biochemical processes. These processes cause changes in peat structure and nutrient dynamics. The rate of this process depends on the following factors: type of peat, degree of peat decomposition, density and thickness of the peat layer, drainage depth and drainage duration as well as climate change. Therefore, the continued degradation of peatlands will accelerate the process of climate change. Long-term intensive land use of former fen areas resulted in changes in biochemical and physical properties as well as in chemical composition and molecular structure of the humic substances. The main cause of this is the lowering of the difference between the surface layer and the groundwater level to permit intensive utilization. The development of peat soils after drainage involves a complex of phenomena: the properties of reclaimed soils and crop yields, the degree of drainage and local peculiarities of climate and hydrogeology. Preliminary List of Solicited Speakers Co-Sponsorship General Statement The information contained hereafter has been compiled and uploaded by the Session Organizers via the "Organizer Session Form". The Session Organizers have therefore the sole responsibility that this information is true and accurate at the date of publication, and the conference organizer cannot accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made, and he makes no warranty, expressed or implied, with regard to the material published. Back to Session Programme

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