The gradual accumulation of partially decomposed plant material in waterlogged, oxygen-poor conditions, where decomposition proceeds far more slowly than the rate of new plant growth, allowing organic matter to build up over centuries and millennia rather than fully breaking down. Peatlands formed by this process store an outsized share of the world's soil carbon relative to the land area they cover.
Facts
Process TypeBiogeochemical or Pedological 1 Sources
1. Peat Formation (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs.
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