Richard Fewster

Toxic metals found in UK peatlands could pose health risk Wildfires and climate change could see decades' worth of pollutants released into the water courses.

Early results from our cutting-edge PIPES project at Queen's University Belfast featured on BBC Northern Ireland this morning.

Toxic metals found in UK peatlands could pose health risk www.bbc.com/news/article...

Great talk by @richard-fewster.bsky.social from QUB to the River Basins cluster here at Leeds Geography. Peatlands, carbon, climate and pollution. Thanks for visiting us Richard!

Had a great day sharing our peatland research projects with BBC Northern Ireland! Grateful to work alongside so many brilliant peatland scientists at Queen's University Belfast, undertaking cutting-edge research on carbon cycling, palaeoecology and pollutant stocks.

Exciting updates coming soon! 🌍

Our recent paper “Climate Warming and Deglaciation Drive New Peat Formation in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand” (doi.org/10.1029/2024...), has been selected by GRL editors to be featured on AGU's social media platforms.

Fewer than 2% of AGU papers are selected to be featured in this way! ❄️

Fantastic morning with our Queen's Peatland Research Group touring the cutting-edge laboratories of Queen's University Belfast, bringing together expertise from 14Chrono, Civil Engineering, Biological Sciences and Geography. Lots of potential for new interdisciplinary projects ahead! #peatlands

Had a great time assisting fieldwork on the stunning blanket bogs at Slieveanorra yesterday with Eleonor Ryberg, Emma Delaney and Chloe Brown for research led by the Climate+ Co-Centre! #peatlands #climatechange

Nature strives for balance: A rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak environmental outlook How climate change is creating new peatlands in a New Zealand mountain

Our recent paper on emerging peatlands in the Southern Alps of Aotearoa/New Zealand has been featured in the Irish Examiner, in an piece led by our fantastic colleague @michellemckeown.bsky.social #peatlands #climatechange
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...

Huge thanks to everyone involved in this research!

Plenty of exciting follow-on questions to explore here ❄️🍃

#peatlands #climatechange #mountainecology #palaeoecology

Climate Warming and Deglaciation Drive New Peat Formation in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand First evidence of peat initiation under late-20th century warming in a deglaciating montane valley in the Southern Hemisphere Consistent timing and direction of palaeoecological changes indicates...

These shifts - driven by rising temperatures and changing plant communities - have big implications for carbon storage & high-altitude ecosystems. Exciting findings, but there’s more to explore!

Huge thanks to the team! 2/2🧵

#Peatlands #ClimateChange #GlacialRetreat #CarbonSink #MountainEcology

🌿 New Paper Alert: Newly Forming Peatlands in Aotearoa/New Zealand! 🌿

Our study shows peat has been accumulating in a recently deglaciated valley in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand, since ∼1949 C.E. As glaciers retreat & climates warm, new peatlands could emerge—key for carbon storage. 1/🧵

Climate Warming and Deglaciation Drive New Peat Formation in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand First evidence of peat initiation under late-20th century warming in a deglaciating montane valley in the Southern Hemisphere Consistent timing and direction of palaeoecological changes indicates...

Our new paper, out now in GRL and led by @richard-fewster.bsky.social, documents the ongoing formation of new peats since 1950 CE in the footprint of receding glaciers in Southern Alps, Aotearoa New Zealand. Open access and free to all agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

Our new paper shows peat initiating since 1949 C.E. in a rapidly warming and deglaciating valley in Aotearoa/New Zealand. An amazing montane site, with implications for peatland dynamics at high elevations and latitudes under anthropogenic climate change. Open access here: doi.org/10.1029/2024...

Rounded out MSc teaching this week on GGY7008: Mitigating Climate Change with a lab practical class examining peat stratigraphy, pH and C content in samples from NI (and beyond!)

Really enjoyed delivering the recent lecture and field class on Nature-Based Solutions to our Climate Change (MSc) students. Plenty of thought-provoking discussions on the best ways we can rehabilitate our damaged peatlands for effective C sequestration @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social

Panoramic image of collapse and subsidence due to permafrost thaw in northern Canada.

As the U.S. increasingly withdraws from climate commitments, a reminder that we have not yet seen the Arctic exert itself in global emissions. It will become more important in coming decades, on par with a new industrial nation. We MUST budget for permafrost thaw emissions NOW.

Hottest year on record sent planet past 1.5C of heating for first time in 2024 Highest recorded temperatures supercharged extreme weather – with worse to come, EU data shows

Hottest year on record sent planet past 1.5C of heating for first time in 2024 | Climate crisis | The Guardian

BG3.22: Permafrost peatlands in a changing climate; responses and impacts to vital ecosystem services

meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...

#PeatECR
#PeatSky
#EGU25

BG3.25: Polluted peatland landscapes: identifying problems and uncovering solutions

@garethclay.bsky.social @mercury-ecohydro.bsky.social

meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...

#PeatECR
#PeatSky
#EGU25

Excited to be involved as a co-convenor at #EGU25! @eurogeosciences.bsky.social

There are lots of peatland sessions taking place this year - should make for a great conference! 🌍🍃

Please consider submitting an application to our sessions before the deadline of Wednesday 15 January 2025:

Polluted Peatland Landscapes: identifying problems and uncovering solutions meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...

@garethclay.bsky.social @mercury-ecohydro.bsky.social

#PeatSky #PeatECR #PeatlandsMatter