| Summary: | The storage of carbon, metals and nutrients in peat lands at high latitude is sensitive to climate- and land usage changes. This work shows that the thermodynamically most stable iron phases in Icelandic peat areas, like hematite or magnetite do not form, but rather the metastable ferrihydrite, which forms in abundance. Model calculations suggest that this ferrihydrite is able to adsorb high concentrations of natural derived heavy metals (Pb, As, Cr, Cu) and nutrients (P). If this ferrihydrite comes in contact with the oceans, these elements will be released through ferrihydrite-seawater interaction. This process may have significant effects to the chemistry of the near shore environments if ferrihydrite transport to the oceans increase due to future increased flooding and sea level rise.
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