England during the Holocene

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Course
College
Section 1
Introduction
A peat bog is a physical feature that is characterized by a wet spongy ground that is majorly composed of decomposing vegetation. The drainage system of this physical feature is normally poorer as compared to that of a swamp. This area is normally not fit for farming or any other cultivation activities instead the soil itself can be dried and later used as fuel. A peat bog is mainly composed of 95% logged water and the rest is organic matter that majorly comes from rotten plants. Martini, I. P., Martínez CortizaS, A., & Chatsworth, W. (2006) Most countries of the world that have got this physical feature England included have stepped up plans in a bid to conserve the environment by reclaiming and restoration of the peat bog areas as they hold substantial volumes of terrestrial carbon. Alley, R. B. (2000).
How do we know trees have grown on peat bogs in England during the Holocene?
Based on past scientific research and discoveries it will be prudent to note that indeed trees once grew in peat bogs not only in England but the world across where these natural features happened to occur. One of the major scientific discoveries that support this notion suggests that tree trunks of pine trees (mega fossils) were discovered in peat bogs. Barber, K. E. (1981) .This directly implies that there must have a period in history that these pine trees really existed in the peat bogs. Having decomposed in those particular areas and that occurrence is common to almost all peat bogs substantially supports the notion that the trees indeed grew there. George, D. G. (2010).
According to the renowned scientist Christian Vaupell in his research he tried to analyze the width of tree rings of buried pine trees that were found in the peat bogs and come up with the conclusion that indeed the said trees once grew in the peat bog areas but stopped due to climate change after the Holocene. He argued that initially tree growth thrived due to the favorable warm conditions that existed at the peat bogs but they seized to develop in the peat bogs area due to a shift in climatic conditions to cold conditions that were unfavorable for their growth. The change in climate was majorly as a result of the effects of the Holocene that occurred. Martini, I. P., Martínez Cortizas, A., & Chesworth, W. (2006)
Critically examine the techniques you would use in such an environmental reconstruction.
Damming drains and plough furrows
This technique is responsible for creating better hydrological conditions for peat bog restoration and it also encourages rapid recovery of damaged peat bog vegetation.
Felling trees
This reconstruction technique is ideal for restoration of raised and blanked peat bogs that were previously altered or damaged due to afforestation. Despite this technique having an equal share of disadvantages it enhance rapid re-emergence of peat bog cover vegetation and conditions that comfortably favor dear to search for tree seedlings. Council of Europe. (2010)
Tree regeneration
This is a very common technique for peat bog reconstruction but when it’s being implemented it’s worth noting that the trees should not be left to grow to uncontrollably numerous volumes that would risk the potential formation of a canopy that would pose a great risk to the peat bog ecosystem. Black, B., & Hassenzahl, D. M. (2013) .The risk involved in this case includes shading off the entire peat bog vegetation and this may eventually contribute to drying of the peat bog itself. Black, B., & Hassenzahl, D. M. (2013)
Conclusion
Peat bogs have been in existence for quite a long time now ,given the fact that they are endangered physical features efforts to protect them through environmental reconstruction activities need to be stepped up to safeguard their existence due to their significance to the environment.
Section 2
Introduction
Peat bogs are feature that needs to be closely safeguarded and protected as they are of great environmental significance. The fact that they hold substantial carbon reserves as well as providing favorable conditions for certain types of vegetation is worth noting. Furthermore they hold substantial scientific evidence and artifacts that are of great importance when studying the field of quaternary science. MartinI, I. P., Martínez Cortizas, A., & Chesworth, W. (2006)
Why are peat bogs viewed as environmental archives?
Peat bogs are commonly viewed as environmental archives due to their nature of holding significant reserves of important elements. Barber, K. E. (1981) First peat bogs mostly in the northern hemisphere hold close to a third fraction of the entire global terrestrial carbon reserves. This makes peat land to be major players in the global carbon cycle dynamisms.
On the same notion peat lands are characterized by heavy metal composition. Peat core that are found in peat bogs hold substantial amounts of atmospheric lead deposits. This metal deposits is obtained from the atmosphere but the peat bogs have a mechanism of retaining it within itself thus accumulating to high volumes which may at times cause metal pollution to the atmosphere. Barber, K. E. (1981)
Critically evaluate techniques that are employed by Quaternary scientists on samples obtained from peat lands.
Quaternary scientist after obtaining samples from the intended peat land site they undertake a number of technique with the sole objective of analyzing them to gather possible information that may be crucial for future decision making and furthering studies in that field of science. Some of the techniques that are commonly applied by quaternary scientist on these samples include the following; coleoptera, plant macrofossils, wood studies, wood technology and scientific dating. An...