How did blanket bog form?

In parts of Europe at least, it is likely that blanket bogs formed due to a combination of a wetter climate that resulted in increased water logging and leaching of soils that encouraged bog mosses to develop, and forest clearance by man. The removal of trees would have further increased water logging, making the area less suitable for trees, and further encouraging the bog mosses. Bog moss dominance and the resultant high water content of the soil would have reduced pH, slowed decomposition of organic matter, and encouraged peat formation. Most blanket bog formation began between 5000 and 6000 years ago, though some may have begun as much as 9000, or as recently as 1500 years ago

Share this page
Bookmark with Del.icio.us Digg This! Post to Reddit Share on Facebook Post to StumbleUpon Post to Kaboodle Bookmark with Yahoo Bookmark with Google

Project handbook and Layman's report on the website

Now that the project has come to an end, the final publications have been produced. A technica Read More

Life Active Blanket Bog in Wales Conference

  The project conference took place on the 8th and 9th March at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel. A day Read More

Lake Vyrnwy to Aberdeen

  The LIFE Project is in the home-straight as it will end on the 31st March 2011. From the ori Read More