Widespread peat carbon losses driven by the 2025 Scottish megafire

Nature Geoscience 2026 Open access

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Authors: Johanna Schoenecker, Martin J. Baur, Juliana Kohli, Sarah Baker, Matthew Jones, Sander Veraverbeke, Alexandra G. Konings, Adam F. A. Pellegrini
DOI: 10.1038/s41561-026-01994-3
Cited by: 1
References: 38

Abstract

Drier and warmer climates have allowed fires to increasingly burn carbon-dense peatland ecosystems. Here we document a 2025 Scottish megafire in the UK, which spread rapidly and burned severely across peatlands in Scotland with anomalously low soil moisture, emitting 38,600 MgC (25,200-119,000 MgC). Peat combustion contributed nearly 85% of total emissions, suggesting drier climates increase fire emissions from peat, which can require decades to centuries to recover.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology Fire effects on ecosystems Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Geoscience
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
19
Issue
7
Pages
763–766
Publication date
20 May 2026
Language
EN