Abstract. Peatlands are one of the largest terrestrial carbon sinks on the planet, yet little is known about carbon accumulation rates (CARs) of mountainous examples. The long-term variability in the size of the associated carbon sink and its drivers remain largely unconstrained, especially when long-term anthropogenic impact is also considered. Here we present a composite CAR record of nine peatlands from central-eastern Europe (Romania and Serbia) detailing variability in rates of carbon accumulation across the Holocene. We show examples of extremely high long-term rates of carbon accumulation (LORCA > 120 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹), indicating that at times, mountain peatlands constitute an efficient regional carbon sink. By comparing our data to modelled palaeoclimatic indices and to measures of anthropogenic impact we disentangle the drivers of peat carbon accumulation in the area. Variability in early and mid-Holocene CARs is linked to hydroclimatic controls, with high CARs occurring during the early Holocene and lower CARs associated with the transition to cooler and moister mid-Holocene conditions. By contrast, after 4000 years (calibrated) before present (yr BP) the trends in CARs indicate a divergence from hydroclimate proxies, indicating that other processes became the dominant drivers of peat CARs. We suggest that enhanced erosion following tree cover reduction as well as enhanced rates of long-distance atmospheric dust fallout might have played a role as both processes would result in enhanced mineral and nutrient supply to bog surfaces, stimulating peat land productivity. Surprisingly though, for the last 1000 years, reconstructed temperature is significantly correlated with CARs, with rising temperatures linked to higher CARs. We suggest under future climate conditions, predicted to be warmer in the region, peat growth may expand, but that this is entirely dependent upon the scale of human impact directly affecting the sensitive hydrological budget of these peatlands.

中文翻译：

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中东欧全新世泥炭地的碳积累率记录了过去 4000 年人类影响的驱动作用

摘要。泥炭地是地球上最大的陆地碳汇之一，但人们对山区碳积累率 (CAR) 知之甚少。相关碳汇大小及其驱动因素的长期可变性在很大程度上仍然不受限制，尤其是在考虑长期人为影响时。在这里，我们展示了来自中东欧（罗马尼亚和塞尔维亚）的九个泥炭地的复合 CAR 记录，详细说明了全新世碳积累率的变化。我们展示了长期碳积累率极高的例子（LORCA > 120 g C m ^-2  yr ^-1)，表明有时山地泥炭地构成有效的区域碳汇。通过将我们的数据与模拟的古气候指数和人为影响的测量值进行比较，我们解开了该地区泥炭碳积累的驱动因素。全新世早期和中期 CAR 的变化与水文气候控制有关，在全新世早期发生高 CAR，而在向凉爽潮湿的中期全新世条件过渡时，CAR 较低。相比之下，在现在（年 BP）之前 4000 年（校准）之后，CAR 的趋势表明与水文气候代理不同，表明其他过程成为泥炭 CAR 的主要驱动因素。我们认为，树木覆盖减少后侵蚀加剧以及远距离大气尘埃沉降率增加可能起到了作用，因为这两个过程都会导致沼泽表面矿物质和养分供应增加，刺激泥炭地生产力。但令人惊讶的是，在过去的 1000 年中，重建的温度与 CAR 显着相关，温度升高与更高的 CAR 相关。我们建议在未来气候条件下，预计该地区将变暖，泥炭生长可能会扩大，但这完全取决于人类影响的规模，直接影响这些泥炭地的敏感水文预算。重建温度与 CAR 显着相关，温度升高与更高的 CAR 相关。我们建议在未来气候条件下，预计该地区将变暖，泥炭生长可能会扩大，但这完全取决于人类影响的规模，直接影响这些泥炭地的敏感水文预算。重建温度与 CAR 显着相关，温度升高与更高的 CAR 相关。我们建议在未来气候条件下，预计该地区将变暖，泥炭生长可能会扩大，但这完全取决于人类影响的规模，直接影响这些泥炭地的敏感水文预算。