Drainage in alpine peatlands on the eastern Tibetan Plateau

This image shows a drained peatland on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Peatlands are important carbon sinks, storing large amounts of organic carbon accumulated over thousands of years. However, artificial drainage lowers the water table, exposing peat to oxygen and accelerating decomposition, which can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In high-altitude regions, such processes are particularly sensitive to climate change and human disturbance. This scene highlights how local land-use practices can influence the global carbon cycle.