The Peatlands of the Northern Hemisphere are Reviving! The Miracle of Wetlands Seen from the Sky: Peatland Restoration Offers Hope in the Face of the Climate Crisis

1. "Time-lapse from the Sky" Unveils Peatland Restoration

The latest paper from Aalto University, published on July 9, unravels the archives of NASA satellites to depict the restoration process of Northern Hemisphere peatlands as a "feature-length film." The cameras used are Landsat and MODIS, and the analysis covers 72 sites in Finland, the Baltic States, the UK, Canada, and the USA.Re-submerging drained wetlands brings reflectivity and surface temperature closer to their natural state in about 10 years—this is the conclusion reached by the research team.Phys.org

2. Peatlands as the "Earth's Refrigerator"

Peatlands, covering less than 3% of the world's land area, hold over 30% of soil carbon. If they dry out due to drainage or conversion to farmland, the stored carbon escapes into the atmosphere as CO₂. In fact, degraded peatlands are estimated to emit **5% of human-induced greenhouse gases**. This is why the cooling effect of restoration is significant.

3. Albedo and Temperature—"Light Parameters" Indicate Restoration Success

The research team focused on albedo (reflectivity). Dry peat is dark and absorbs heat, but as water returns, the area reflecting light increases, lowering the surrounding temperature. By integrating 22 years of satellite images, it was found that the albedo 10 years after restoration shows no statistical difference from untouched wetlands. As global warming progresses, this passive cooling acts as a "natural air conditioner" for regional climates.Phys.org

4. Vegetation Returns with a "Lag"

However, the recovery of greenery is not straightforward. Simply blocking drainage channels does not bring back sphagnum moss; layered care such as tree felling, vegetation transplantation, and seed bank utilization is necessary. Dr. Burdon from Aalto University states, "Only when the hydrological structure is in place and the light environment changes do plant communities begin to move."Phys.org

5. EU Restoration Regulation and the Acceleration of the "Post-Carbon Economy"

In 2024, the EU will adopt the Ecosystem Restoration Regulation, aiming to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, including wetlands, by 2030. In Finland, one-third of the land is peatland, with half already drained. Restoration is expected to require public investment on the order of billions of euros. "Without satellite monitoring, cost-effectiveness cannot be measured," points out Professor Rautiainen, the research leader.Phys.org

6. SNS Fuels the "Peatland Revival" Movement

Upon the announcement, tags like "#PeatlandRestoration" and "#GiveBackTheBog" surged on X (formerly Twitter). Environmental influencer **@WoodlandWomen** posted, "The restored area aligns with the net-zero curve!" and over 50 quoted retweets spread like wildfire.TwStalker

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government's Net Zero official account boasted "Re-wetted 14,000ha in one year," giving a tailwind to their policies. In the comments, citizens voiced, "It could become a tourist resource," and "The Siberian swans have returned!"TwStalker

7. The Scientific Community's "Ride-Along" and Data from Other Regions

The UK's Guardian newspaper reported in May on national-scale peat mapping, further heating up SNS discussions. Additionally, ScienceDaily released news that peatlands in the Arctic have expanded over 40 years, strengthening the recognition that "cold regions are carbon banks."ScienceDaily

8. A New Chapter of Satellites + AI + Citizen Science

Satellite images record "light" differences at the pixel level, while on the ground, drones, IoT sensors, and volunteers measure water levels and vegetation. In Yorkshire, a project has begun where AI integrates these multi-layered data to estimate CO₂ flux in real-time. The wide-angle images of North York Moors released by NASA Earth Observatory are a valuable teaching tool that allows citizens to "visually" observe these changes.earthobservatory.nasa.gov

9. Economic Incentives and Carbon Credits

Restored peatlands are the rising stars of the "brown carbon" market, as opposed to blue carbon. In crediting the albedo effect and CO₂ absorption, it is estimated that 10-15 tons of CO₂ equivalent per hectare per year can be expected. The investor community is casting a keen eye, noting "higher ROI than forests."

10. Choosing a "Wet Future"

Science shows "cooling peatlands," and citizens raise their voices on SNS to "protect peatlands." The remaining challenges are funding and political will. And above all, whether we can tolerate the "asymmetry of time," where it takes one day to drain water but 10 years to return it. What satellites capture is not just a landscape but a record of our choices and a blueprint for the future.