Assessing peat fires for planning and control

摘要

Peat is an accumulation of partially decomposed plant debris in a water-saturated, anaerobic environment. Peatlands cover about 5% of the earth's surface. Their total reliance on water to maintain natural processes makes them highly significant terrestrial ecosystems. They are typically biologically hostile environments due to waterlogging, low pH and anaerobic conditions. They are under increasing pressure from human development and drought conditions.