Sonnenberger Moor (Lower Saxony, Germany)
Location
| Location | Temperature (annual mean) | Precipitation (annual) | Elevation a.s.l. | Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Saxony | 6.0 °C | 1546 mm | 758–830 m | Mire complex |
Peatland landscape and hydrology
The Sonnenberger Moor peatland lies in the Lower Saxon part of the Harz National Park. The approximately 110 ha mire complex extends across a shallow saddle and adjoining slopes. It is the third-largest mire in the Harz Mountains and, with approximately 54 ha, has the largest open mire area in the region. Rain-fed bog areas, sections influenced by water from adjacent slopes and mineral soils, and spruce mire woodland form a spatially heterogeneous mosaic.
Peat is less than three metres thick across large parts of the mire and reaches a local maximum of 5.4 metres. Precipitation, lateral water inputs and streams that flow beneath the peat in places shape its hydrology. Distinctive collapse depressions occur locally. Large parts of the mire retain near-natural conditions. However, historical interventions involving road construction, ditching and land use in parts of the mire disrupt its hydrology.Vegetation and research
Peat mosses (Sphagnum spp.), cottongrasses (particularly Eriophorum vaginatum) and dwarf shrubs characterise the open mire areas. Characteristic species include heather (Calluna vulgaris), bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) and cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos). Repeated vegetation surveys on 27 permanent plots between 2009 and 2023 document an increase in woody plant cover, particularly heather and bog rosemary.
The eddy covariance station is situated in the south-eastern open part of the mire. Since January 2022, it has measured the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and water vapour between the mire and the atmosphere. Combining these time series with vegetation surveys and information on hydrological conditions makes it possible to investigate relationships between vegetation change, weather and greenhouse gas exchange. The central question is how carbon storage in a mountain mire responds to changing environmental conditions. CO₂ uptake and methane release are examined together to assess their contribution to the mire’s impact on climate.
Selected Literature