Abstract
The purpose of this research is to:
Develop a field survey method that can be used to test the validity of maps of peatland condition that were created using satellite radar measures of peatland surface motion.
Test and refine a pre-existing peatland condition classification (Bradley et al., 2022) that was based on the relationship between peatland surface motion and condition observed in the Flow Country.
Peatland surface motion is a sensitive indicator of peatland condition and resilience. It is a mechanical response to changes in water storage that reflect a range of peatland properties including softness/stiffness, water table depth, plant functional type, land use history and topography. It also provides a measure of the ability of a peatland surface to track changes in the water table and hence minimise the risk posed by variable weather patterns and fire.
Previous work for NatureScot (Marshall et al., 2021) demonstrated that high (20 m) resolution maps of peatland condition derived from surface motion, can be created for large areas at low cost from satellite radar data using an interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique. The spatial extent and resolution of the classified data brings with it the need for an appropriate and sustainable validation technique based on easily documented field observations made by an observer walking the land rather than expensive and/or localised field instruments.
As part of the ongoing development of InSAR as a tool for quantifying peatland condition at a national scale the next step was to produce and refine a peatland assessment tool that could be used to validate surface motion derived maps of peatland condition on various Peatland ACTION restoration sites. Three sites were chosen for this purpose, Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve (NNR) (Dumfries and Galloway), Moss of Crombie (Aberdeenshire) and the Bunloit Estate (Inverness-shire). Our focus was constrained to Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR (hereafter referred to as Cairnsmore) in Dumfries and Galloway (Figure 1). The Bunloit Estate was visited as part of the development of the field assessment tool as it provided a contrast to the Flow Country, however, as plans for Peatland ACTION work on the site were not confirmed, no classified maps are reported. Classified maps for Moss of Crombie have been produced (Annex 1) but due to COVID restrictions no site visits were undertaken.
Develop a field survey method that can be used to test the validity of maps of peatland condition that were created using satellite radar measures of peatland surface motion.
Test and refine a pre-existing peatland condition classification (Bradley et al., 2022) that was based on the relationship between peatland surface motion and condition observed in the Flow Country.
Peatland surface motion is a sensitive indicator of peatland condition and resilience. It is a mechanical response to changes in water storage that reflect a range of peatland properties including softness/stiffness, water table depth, plant functional type, land use history and topography. It also provides a measure of the ability of a peatland surface to track changes in the water table and hence minimise the risk posed by variable weather patterns and fire.
Previous work for NatureScot (Marshall et al., 2021) demonstrated that high (20 m) resolution maps of peatland condition derived from surface motion, can be created for large areas at low cost from satellite radar data using an interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique. The spatial extent and resolution of the classified data brings with it the need for an appropriate and sustainable validation technique based on easily documented field observations made by an observer walking the land rather than expensive and/or localised field instruments.
As part of the ongoing development of InSAR as a tool for quantifying peatland condition at a national scale the next step was to produce and refine a peatland assessment tool that could be used to validate surface motion derived maps of peatland condition on various Peatland ACTION restoration sites. Three sites were chosen for this purpose, Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve (NNR) (Dumfries and Galloway), Moss of Crombie (Aberdeenshire) and the Bunloit Estate (Inverness-shire). Our focus was constrained to Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR (hereafter referred to as Cairnsmore) in Dumfries and Galloway (Figure 1). The Bunloit Estate was visited as part of the development of the field assessment tool as it provided a contrast to the Flow Country, however, as plans for Peatland ACTION work on the site were not confirmed, no classified maps are reported. Classified maps for Moss of Crombie have been produced (Annex 1) but due to COVID restrictions no site visits were undertaken.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 13 Jun 2025 |