Geophysical Research Letters · 29 September 2026 · From issue 44
Water Storage Capacity Dynamics in Drained Boreal Peatlands: Responses to Rewetting and Climate Change
Rewetting drained peat bogs restores their ability to soak up and hold water.
Shokoufeh Salimi, Behshid Khodaei et al.
Draining northern peat bogs made the ground sink and lose its ability to soak up water like a sponge. Adding water back to these drained lands restores that sponge-like ability, even under hotter, wetter future climates. The effect is strongest where a type of moss grows back and makes the ground soft again. Satellite measurements showed the peat surface rising faster after rewetting than in untouched peatlands.
Shows rewetting works in lab chambers, field sites, and satellite measurements, not a guarantee for every bog.
Lab and field tests only, not every peatland type checked yet.
Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 30 September 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Geophysical Research Letters). Read the source
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