Explore Map Collection

Check out our basemaps

Print a Map Plus

Generate a high-quality PDF

Discover local flora, fauna, geology, and more

Local Flora & Fauna

Learn the ecology of your area

Learn the geologic formation at your feet

Get Started or Sign In

Welcome

Sign up to start exploring the one-of-a-kind Natural Atlas Topo map

Continue with Apple

Or

Already have an account? Sign In

MAP

Topo

Rock Formations

Measure

Copyright © Natural Atlas | Roads, Buildings © OSM Contributors | Data Sources

Topo

Ecoregions

Public Lands

...

BASEMAPS

Default Weather

Temperature

Smoke

...

WEATHER

Peat

“Turf”

On the Web

On Wikipedia

Peat (), sometimes known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers 3.7 million square kilometres (1.4 million square miles) and is the most efficient carbon sink on the planet, because peatland plants capture carbon dioxide (CO2) naturally released from the peat, maintaining an equilibrium. In natural peatlands, the "annual rate of biomass production is greater than the rate of decomposition", but it takes "thousands of years for peatlands to develop the deposits of 1.5 to 2.3 m [4.9 to 7.5 ft], which is the average depth of the boreal [northern] peatlands", which store around 415 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon (about 46 times 2019 global CO2…

Read More on Wikipedia

Your Checklist

You have noted 0 Peat

Learn How to Take A Field Note

Range Map

Range Maps show field notes recorded by Natural Atlas contributors and other datasets via GBIF.org

Join Natural Atlas to keep track of the Peat you see on your outings.

Join Natural Atlas

Already have an account?

Top Observers