Connemara IR - Sionnanach peat or turf

            Peat, also known as turf, is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs.

The peatland ecosystem is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet, because peatland plants capture CO2 naturally released from the peat, maintaining an equilibrium. In natural peatlands, the "annual rate of biomass production is greater than the rate of decomposition", but it takes "thousands of years for peatlands to develop the deposits of 1.5 to 2.3 m [4.9 to 7.5 ft], which is the average depth of the boreal [northern] peatlands". 

Sphagnum moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most common components in peat, although many other plants can contribute. The biological features of Sphagnum mosses act to create a habitat aiding peat formation, a phenomenon termed 'habitat manipulation'. Soils consisting primarily of peat are known as histosols. Peat forms in wetland conditions, where flooding or stagnant water obstructs the flow of oxygen from the atmosphere, slowing the rate of decomposition.

Peatlands, particularly bogs, are the primary source of peat, although less-common wetlands including fens, pocosins, and peat swamp forests also deposit peat. Landscapes covered in peat are home to specific kinds of plants including Sphagnum moss, ericaceous shrubs, and sedges (see bog for more information on this aspect of peat). Because organic matter accumulates over thousands of years, peat deposits provide records of past vegetation and climate by preserving plant remains, such as pollen. This allows the reconstruction of past environments and study changes in land use.

Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world. By volume, there are about 4 trillion cubic metres (5.2 trillion cubic yards) of peat in the world, covering a total of around 2% of the global land area (about 3 million square kilometres or 1.2 million square miles), containing about 8 billion terajoules of energy. Over time, the formation of peat is often the first step in the geological formation of other fossil fuels such as coal, particularly low-grade coal such as lignite.

Depending on the agency, peat is not generally regarded as a renewable source of energy, due to its extraction rate in industrialized countries far exceeding its slow regrowth rate of 1 mm per year, and as it is also reported that peat regrowth takes place only in 30-40% of peatlands. Because of this, the UNFCCC, and another organization affiliated with the United Nations classified peat as a fossil fuel. 

However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has begun to classify peat as a "slowly renewable" fuel. This is also the classification used by many in the peat industry. At 106 g CO2/MJ, the carbon dioxide emission intensity of peat is higher than that of coal (at 94.6 g CO2/MJ) and natural gas (at 56.1) (IPCC).

Some rights reserved

Taken in: Ireland / Connaught / Cornamona (show map)

Taken on: June 10, 2019

Tags:

canon

dslr

Connemara

peat

turf

eos

hdr

hdri

Spiegelreflexkamera

SLR

Ireland

Eire

Irland

Éire

Irlande

Ирландия

Irlanda

historic

geschichte

travel

Rejse

Viaje

Voyage

Viaggio

Reis

Путешествие

Podróż

여행

מסע

यात्रा

旅行

reisen

reise « less

Sets appears in: • Irland - Éire - Ireland

Groups appears in: • This Is Europe • 1-2-3 Nature more » • The Photoholic • Shield Of Excellence • ¡ El Gran Grupo de Flickr - 2013 • The Other Village - (Post 1 Award 4) • National Geographic: The World Around Us (post 1, nominate 3) • *Nature* (comment 2) • The Unforgettable Pictures ~ Post 1, Comment 3 ~ NEW RULES!! • Ultimate GOLD (Post 1 - Give 5 Gold Stars) • Earth Science Teaching Resource • Irland (The best Place on earth) • World Photography - Public Photos - Traveling - Life • " FLICKR Stars :: COMMENT OR BAN :: post 1 award 6: • nature's composition • Picture at an Exhibition - Quadri di un esposizione • -Spirit Of Photography • Picture Perfect (Post 1 - Comment 3) • Royal Group - Have a Good Light ! • *Nature Pics* • Official National Geographic Group • Natur ~* pur *~ • Aficionados con ganas de mostrarse - Fans with desire of would. • UMBRAL AWARD • Our Memories, Our Times • Through these eyes... • STUNNING NATURE • · Zafiro, post 1 invite 1 award 5 • Sparkling Heart • el manicomio • National Geographic | World Wide • The WOW Gallery - Contest "What Makes You Happy" • The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Post 1-Award 3 a must/Sweeper • ♥ Well, once upon a time...♥ (post 1 /comnt 1) • Just One Look • !Addicted to Nature!(Post 2-Award 3)Sweeper Active • The Light Painters Society • ♥ Flying Carpet Club ♥ Post 2/comment3 • National Geographic Group • Sapphire Awards *POST 1 - AWARD 3* *Sweeper Active* • The NEW Flickr. "BEST" picts.!! • ♪♥¸.•★*´So, you want a group of Magic ♥¸.♪• • Nature's Treasures *Post 1 - Award 3* *Sweeper Active* • oscar awards, post 2, award 1. • ₪ NATURE SANCTUARY ₪ (NO buildings, NO people, NO B/W) • "SPARTACUS" Eyes without chains • ***NATURE_LOVER*** • !* Nature of Diversity *♥* Nature, NO people! *♥* P1/A2 • PAINTINGS AND PHOTOS = ART / P 1 - C 3 • ~♥~ MY CREATIVE HEART ~♥~ BEATS ON FLICKR ~♥~ • NATURË / P1 & A2 • ! * Fantastic Nature Group *Moderated* » Post 1 and Award 1 « • dreams I'll dream.. by invitation ~ P1/C3 • National Geographic Society • «★» FLICKR EXPERT GROUP «★» POST 1- AWARD 4 • ♥ SKYLINES ♥ CITYSCAPE ♥ LANDSCAPE ♥ BEACHSCAPE ♥ • ♥ ♥.. besonders herzlich ..♥ ♥ • ᗪiscovery .ᗯorld • living in harmony with nature • The New Photo Distillery • WORLD Photography (Post 1 / Award 1) • NATURE (Post 1 / Award 4) • ►the best shots◄ (Post 1 - Award 5) • AMIGOS DEL HDR • Nature's Art Underfoot • PLANET EARTH WILDLIFE AND NATURE • THE LOOK level 1 RED • ₪ FELIX + FRIENDS = FUN ₪ Please Award 2 Photos! • World of details - Award Group (post 1/award 4) • Schöne Fotos - beautiful photos • Rainbow of Nature Level 2 : ORANGE (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 3 : YELLOW (Post1-Award4) • illumination focus • ¡Congela tu momento! # Freeze your moment! • PBWA - Photography By Wandering About • Nature's Elite/PLEASE ONLY NATURE PHOTOS • TOURISM magazine • ₪ Give PEACE a Chance! ₪ Please JOIN us! • Sweet Shot Level 1 (P1, A3) • This is Why I Bought A Camera • ₪ ISSUE_ᴄᴀᴍᴘᴀıԍɴ_CAUSE_ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇɴᴇss ₪ • beatifulgeographies • ₪ ☰lέgant☰ ÉLITE ☰xclusiv☰ ₪ Comment/ Award pls. • My Favourite photo - la mia foto preferita • ₪ LOVE ❥ is ALL we ❥ NEED ₪ [Award 2] • ★ EUROPE ★ ЕВРОПА ★ ΕΥΡΩΠΗ ★ EUROPA ★ • Wow! I saw this! (Post all things in the eyes view) • 2.000 / 2000 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 5.000 / 5000 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • All pictures Nature surrounding (No 30/60 limit) • 3.000 / 3000 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 500 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 1.000 / 1000 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 300 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 100 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • 400 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • ₪ YESTER-YEARS ⸎ ANTIQUE ⸎ VINTAGE-RETRO ₪ • 200 views at least (NO LIMITS, NO 30/60) • ₪ XXI ❧ CENTURY ☙ 21 ₪ • High Class Photography (invite only) • ₪ kre-ART-ive ·⸎· lab-ART-ory ₪ • ₪ EARTH ♻ ENVIRONMENT ♻ ECOLOGY ₪ pls Comment≡Ꝛ svp • ₪ MASTERPIECE★✩✪✩★CHEF-D'ŒUVRE ₪ Comment≡Ꝛ 2 • 50+ Favorites - Post 1, Comment & Fave 2 • **L1**TREASURES of OUR PLANET • Photo Prime Level 1 Post 1/Award 5 Post Your Best • !*Natures Beauty*! • **L2**TREASURES of OUR PLANET • Photozone Level 1 ....... Post 1 Award 5 other members • PhotoZone Level 2 • Photo Addiction NO PHOTOS OF PEOPLE Level 1 • Timeless Moments L1 - P1/A5 • LOOK for a better group - level 1 RED • Photo Kingdom Level 1+ Post 1 Awd 3 (no group limit) • ¤¤ HDR ¤¤ (No limit 30/60) • Photo Classic Level 1 NO Photos with PEOPLE Post 1 Award 5 « less

Stats: 8,239 views / 197 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: