The Arctic Peatland
Monitoring water flows and biodiversity
Arctic peatlands are a vulnerable ecosystem, and growing interest in mining makes increased environmental monitoring essential to avoid contamination-related consequences. More precise measurements of snowmelt, water runoff, and biodiversity are particularly important for tracking ecological changes, but this depends on identifying optimal technologies for continuous monitoring.
This case study investigated instruments such as bathymetric LiDARs and radiometers, which are noninvasive to the peatland. The radiometer detects signals from the ground, aiding in estimating soil and snow moisture. Bathymetric LiDARs monitor water levels in shallow swamp ponds and could be a more economically viable solution in the future, while also offering the potential to collect vegetation data.