What can peat become?

Under certain conditions, peat will turn into lignite coal over geologic periods of time.

What can peat change into?

With increasing depth of burial and increasing temperature, peat deposits are gradually changed to lignite. With increased time and higher temperatures, these low-rank coals are gradually converted to subbituminous and bituminous coal and under certain conditions to anthracite.

Does peat turn into coal?

Under the right conditions, peat transforms into coal through a process called carbonization. Carbonization takes place under incredible heat and pressure. About three meters (10 feet) of layered vegetation eventually compresses into a third of a meter (one foot) of coal!

Does peat turn into lignite?

Burial and accumulation can occur for several thousands of years, producing several meters of partially decayed plant matter known as peat. When this peat is deeply buried, water and other compounds is squeezed out from the increasing pressure and the lowest quality of coal, lignite, begins for form.

What does peat stop from growing?

Even though it retains water, peat moss prevents soil from becoming too water-logged because it releases moisture slowly.

Why peat matters?

How is peat turned into energy?

A long mound of peat, stripped and dried earlier in the season, is covered in plastic, waiting to be piled into rail cars and taken to a nearby power plant. There, the carbon-rich soil will be burned to generate electricity.

How is peat destroyed?

They are either drained to make way for fertile pasture and cropland, or they are destroyed by the extraction of peat, which is used as a source of energy. When peatlands are drained, their peat is exposed to air and releases its carbon in form of CO2, 20 times faster than it was sequestered.

Does peat decompose?

Peatlands are very wet, and decomposition is slow compared to other ecosystems like forests or grasslands which are drier. As a result, more dead plants accumulate, which means less carbon is released to the atmosphere from peatlands than from many other ecosystem types.

Why does peat not decompose?

It doesn't really decompose because peat moss is so anaerobic and this process takes very slowly. The decomposition process happens without the presence of air, which slows the development rate. It only gains less than one millimeter in depth each year.

How long does it take peat to become coal?

At that rate, it would take about 12,000-60,000 years to accumulate enough peat to form a three-metre coal seam. The transformation from peat to coal takes even longer.

What is released when peat is burned?

Peat fire emissions

Peat fires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In addition, peat fires release mercury into the atmosphere at a rate 15 times greater than upland forests, which may be a serious human health concern.

Is it bad to burn peat?

The fine particles released from peat fires pose the greatest risk to your health. When these particles get into your eyes and lungs, symptoms of irritation such as coughing, wheezing and sore eyes are commonly experienced. As smoke levels decrease these symptoms will become less pronounced and eventually cease.

How long will peat last?

“But most of it's between 4,000 and 8,000 years.” In peat-rich regions, which are located mostly in Northern Europe, Canada, and Russia, people have long burned the gunk for heating and cooking.

What happens when peat dries out?

What happens when peatlands dry out? When peat isn't covered by water, it could be exposed to enough oxygen to fuel aerobic microbes living within. The oxygen allows the microbes to grow extremely fast, enjoy the feast of carbon-rich food, and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

How long does peat take to break down?

Peat moss or “peat” is made of partially decayed plant material—usually mosses—that have been submerged without oxygen in wet, acidic conditions, like those found in a bog. The decaying process is very slow, taking up to 1,000 years to create a 36-inch layer of it!

Why is peat soil bad?

Peat releases huge amounts of stored carbon dioxide when it is harvested, which adds to greenhouse gas levels. Peat mining is effectively unsustainable – it grows back at just 1 mm a year.

Is peat flammable?

Peat that has dried up due to reduced moisture content caused by drying that is not reversed, will have the characteristics of dry wood. In other words, it is highly flammable.

Does peat burn better than coal?

Peat is the most damaging fuel in terms of global warming; even worse than coal. It has a lower calorific value than coal (generating less energy per tonne when it is burned) and yet it produces higher CO2 emissions per unit, so it is the least climate-efficient way to produce electricity or heat in Ireland bar none.

Is peat dirtier than coal?

But peat, or turf, is one of the most polluting fuels in the world. It is more polluting, even, than coal, generating less energy when burned while producing more emissions.

How can peat become anthracite coal?

Peat is a soft, organic material consisting of partly decayed plant and mineral matter. When peat is placed under high pressure and heat, it undergoes physical and chemical changes (coalification) to become coal.

Do peat bogs regenerate?

And because peat takes a very long time to form, once the bogs are damaged, they can take up to 100 years to regrow.

How do you turn peat into soil?

Before you add peat moss to soil, you should soak it in water for a few minutes first. Simply put some moss in a bin, fill it with water and let it sit. Remove the moist moss, give it a little squeeze to remove excess water, and then mix it into your soil at a 1:1 ratio.

Why is peat moss being banned?

The sale of peat moss has been banned for these reasons: Harvesting dries the peat moss emitting the stored CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere where it persists for hundreds of years. Harvesting destroys ecosystem plants and animals' endemic to their geographic locations.

What is the disadvantage of peat?

The most significant downside to peat soil is that it is an unsustainable, non-renewable resource. Harvesting peat soil can contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and methane into the air.

Does peat grow mold?

Sometimes, in certain temperatures, water condensates between the peat bale and the plastic wrapping creating conditions that allow fungal growth. You may see white mould or yellow or orange powdery like growth on the surface of the peat. These fungi are not harmful to plants. The white mould is Trichoderma.