Geospatial Assessment of Groundwater Influence at Finland’s National Monitoring Network for Restored Peatlands

In peatland restoration, successful restoration of hydrology is the main prerequisite for restoring the targeted plant community and ecosystem functioning. In peatlands, groundwater influence may enhance restoration success by providing a stable water supply.  Moreover, groundwater often supports habitat types of high floristic value.

The objective of this study was to assess the potential groundwater influence within the Finland’s national monitoring network for restored peatlands. The work is a part of the ECO-WADE project (Enhanced Understanding of Carbon and Groundwater Dynamics in European Peatlands and Their Related Ecosystem Services), funded by the Research Council of Finland and the EU Water4All partnership.

Potential groundwater influence was first identified using open-access geospatial datasets. The study utilized geological data such as information on glaciofluvial formations, which can be significant sources of groundwater for downstream peatlands. Mapped groundwater discharge locations, such as springs, and catchment areas and surface-water flow paths delineated using digital elevation models were used to study the potential connections. Groundwater influence was also examined using open satellite datasets. During the warm summer season, groundwater discharge areas appear cooler than their surroundings in thermal imagery. In winter, under snow-covered conditions, these areas may appear as patches with reduced or absent snow cover.

The geospatial and remote sensing analyses were compared with porewater temperature and water quality parameters (e.g., electrical conductivity, pH) collected from monitoring sites to determine whether these indicators also reflect groundwater influence.

The results showed the monitoring sites potentially fed by groundwater. Information derived from open geospatial and remote sensing datasets can support and guide the assessment of hydrological restoration success and help identify restoration sites with the potential to sustain valuable habitat types.