Degerö

Mire research

Degerö Stormyr is a nutrient-poor mire, which is the most common type of mire in both Sweden and the northern hemisphere within the boreal climate zone. Located at Kulbäcksliden Research Park, 270 meters above sea level, the area spans a 6.5 km² mire complex.

The peat depth ranges mostly from 3 to 4 meters, with a maximum of 7.8 meters. The mire originally formed from a number of smaller lakes, with sediment accumulation beginning around 8,000 years ago, while peat accumulation started nearly 6,000 years ago.

The entire mire lies above the highest coastline, unaffected by marine influence. The bedrock is composed of gneiss and, along with the overlaying moraines, is nutrient-poor. The mire complex consists of a variety of mire types in terms of vegetation composition, with the plant communities mainly dominated by sphagnum mosses and grasses, reflecting nutrient-poor conditions.

mires, mosses, and swamps are common in Swedish forests and are crucial for landscape biodiversity, water quality in streams and lakes, and greenhouse gas balance. mires only cover 3% of the Earth's land surface, yet they store around 25% of all organic carbon in the soil globally. Additionally, northern mires release 10-30% of the methane emitted annually from natural ecosystems.

The research focus is to understand how northern hemisphere mires impact the atmosphere and, consequently, the climate, both in the short and long term with respect to the carbon cycle. One key aspect of the study is examining what happens in a changing climate. Will mires help counteract climate change, or will they accelerate it?

Since 1995, research has been underway to understand how sulfur and phosphorus deposition, combined with rising temperatures, affects methane emissions from mires. Methane, after carbon dioxide, is the second most important greenhouse gas. Continuous measurements of carbon dioxide flow between the mire and the atmosphere began in 2001, and since 2004, measurements of both the annual methane emission and the transport of carbon via runoff have been conducted.

Other key research questions include: What is the significance of mires for the presence of mercury in fish? How are various microorganisms affected by nitrogen and sulfur deposition and rising temperatures? How important are frost depth and snow cover for mire plants, peat formation, and methane emissions?

Research is conducted by scientists from major Swedish universities, as well as many international research groups.

ICOS Measurements of Greenhouse Gases at Degerö

At Degerö mire ecosystem station, long-term measurements of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the flux between the atmosphere and the mire are conducted. The station measures conditions in boreal wetlands and is part of a network of measurement stations within ICOS: a European research infrastructure for monitoring and understanding greenhouse gas exchanges between the earth's surface and the atmosphere.

Out on the mire, flux and ecosystem measurements have been carried out for a long time, but the existing station was renovated during 2012-13 to meet the new ICOS specifications.

The ecosystem station, with a four-meter-high mast, focuses on describing the mire's exchange of greenhouse gases, water vapor, and energy with the atmosphere. By measuring gas concentrations simultaneously with the vertical air movements with high temporal resolution, the fluxes to and from the mire can be calculated, i.e., how much carbon dioxide the mire absorbs or emits. Additionally, a range of meteorological variables are measured, including short- and longwave radiation, wind, air temperature, air humidity, and precipitation. Conditions in the mire, such as soil temperature and moisture, are also continuously recorded.

The measurements provide information on how the local ecosystem within a radius of approximately 100-200 meters around the mast functions.

What Can We Offer You?

In addition to basic greenhouse gas measurements, ICOS Degerö hosts shorter research projects and campaigns. You can start a project and connect it here.
For research at the infrastructure, access to collected data is available.
Electricity and internet are available on-site.