Minnesota is home to the largest stretch of peatlands in the contiguous United States, terrain that has been building for thousands of years. Jennifer de Mooy's new book, Water, Carbon, Time: Exploring Peatlands in a Warming World, looks at why these wetlands matter for carbon storage and what a warming climate means for them. The MPR News interview covers how peatlands draw scientists from around the world and why they are increasingly relevant to climate discussions. Peatlands hold massive amounts of carbon because waterlogged conditions slow decomposition. When they are drained, burned, or disturbed, that stored carbon can be released. De Mooy's book connects the slow formation of these ecosystems to the fast changes now happening, making it a useful read for anyone tracking natural carbon sinks. The episode is available through MPR News and the Minnesota Now podcast. For readers focused on carbon markets, land use policy, or climate resilience, the conversation gives a grounded look at a landscape that is often overlooked.
