REVIEW article
Front. Environ. Sci.
Sec. Environmental Informatics and Remote Sensing
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1685165
This article is part of the Research TopicInnovative Support of Remote Sensing Data for Monitoring Peatlands and Wetlands and Their ConditionView all articles
Open-Access Satellite Data for Peatland Condition and Restoration Monitoring in the UK: A Review
Provisionally accepted
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, UK, London, United Kingdom
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This paper presents a literature review of satellite remote sensing approaches for monitoring northern peatland condition indicators. First, a set of key climate regulation indicators related to hydrology, vegetation, and terrain changes is identified and evidenced. Second, satellite remote sensing methods to measure and monitor each indicator are summarized and assessed. Finally, recommendations on the utility of open-access satellite data to monitor peatland condition indicators of northern peatlands in an operational context are provided. Results of this study demonstrate that a combination of data from both radar and optical satellites, reinforced by robust ground and aerial measurements for calibration and validation, is able to track temporal and spatial changes of the key indicators. Operational monitoring of peatland condition and change resulting from restoration activities can underpin carbon crediting mechanisms. Satellite data enables systematic, national-scale monitoring of peatland restoration over extended timeframes. However, challenges such as obtaining cloud-free optical imagery remain. Future satellite missions will allow for further development of remote sensing methods to improve peatland condition monitoring.
Keywords: peatland, remote sensing, peatland condition, Restoration monitoring, Hydrological indicators, Vegetation indicators, Carbon credits
Received: 13 Aug 2025; Accepted: 09 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Reynolds, Mota and Nightingale. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Nicole Reynolds, nicole.reynolds@npl.co.uk
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