RECENT ACCUMULATION AND EROSION OF BLANKET PEAT IN THE WICKLOW MOUNTAINS, IRELAND

Abstract
Active peat erosion is widespread in the Wicklow mountains, and it has been suggested that peat accumulation has slowed or ceased in the area associated with the erosive processes. Analysis of the recent deposition of pollen and magnetic minerals at three sites shows that significant quantities of peat (6.5 to 16.5 cm) have accumulated within the last 150 years. The fallout of magnetic pollutants is far below that found in the Pennine peats, ruling out certain hypotheses about the causes of montane blanket peat erosion.