About this Research Topic

Background

In the modern era, wetlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world and play important roles due to their hydrological attributes, and their high ecological diversity (flora and fauna), and productivity. Further to this, wetlands behave as a potential source/sink of greenhouse gases (GHG, especially methane), affecting releases to the atmosphere as well as sequestration, thereby impacting future climate change. Their dense vegetation, algal activity, and soils can regulate processes, such as the decomposition of organic matter which generates GHG in wetland ecosystems. In addition, some types of wetlands might be more efficient at capturing atmospheric carbon than rainforests.

In recent decades, the rapid increase in urbanization and anthropogenic activities has disturbed land use and land cover (LULC), resulting in an increase in the concentration of atmospheric GHG (e.g., CH4, N2O, and CO2). Recently, CO2 has been increasing at 1.7 ppmv yr−1 (equivalent to 0.46% yr−1) and impacting global climate change. The mitigation of global warming is an urgent task for policymakers, scientists, and environmentalists, as the adverse effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent around the world.

Although wetlands occupy only 5–8% of the Earth’s land surface, they contain about 68% of the terrestrial soil carbon reserves and have an important role in carbon sequestration. Hence, wetlands represent one of the largest biological carbon stocks and play a decisive role in the global carbon cycle. Furthermore, the assessment of spatio-temporal variability in water quality and heavy metal concentrations, as well as tracing of contamination sources, are crucial steps for the protection and sustainable utilization of water resources and ecosystems.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide an assessment, evaluation, and solutions for the problems related to wetlands, such as degradation (loss) and pollution, and to emphasize their role in mitigating global warming.

This Research Topic mainly aims to highlight:
• The important role of wetlands in mitigating global warming, improving water quality, removing harmful heavy metals and other contaminants.
• Aquatic ecosystem assessments, eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems, water, and sediment pollution, and wetland remediation.
• Soil organic carbon (SOC) pools, carbon capture, and sequestration.
• Modelling techniques that improve understanding and predicting soil carbon sequestration.
• Mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions, Wetland ecology, GHG footprint, Carbon capture, Soil carbon sequestration, Freshwater bodies, Environmental factors, Water quality assessment, Carbon budgeting, Eco-hydrology, Carbon Sources and sinks, Modelling and measurement

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