Paul J. Morris

Paul J. Morris

@peatbloke.bsky.social

Peatlands, wetlands, climate, hydrology, biogeography. Professor of Biogeoscience, University of Leeds.

139 followers113 following30 posts

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Our new paper in #hydrologicalprocesses reports the first Ksat measurements from central Congo Basin peatlands, and explores the possibility of pan-tropical pedotransfer functions. A great team effort from the CongoPeat project. Open access and free to all! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comFirst Measurements of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity From Peats of the Central Congo BasinWe show that saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) in surficial peats of central Congo Basin is low compared to deeper peat layers elsewhere in the tropics. Low Ksat in Congolese peats may be a res...
Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

20 years ago, almost to the day, I started my PhD in London, and with it my journey into science. Today I was appointed Professor of Biogeoscience by the UnIversity of Leeds. Feeling humble, grateful, exhausted, etc.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Our new paper in ERL, led by Dr. Greta Dargie, shows peatlands of central Congo Basin are twice as old as previously believed. The oldest peat initiated at least 42,000 years ago and persisted through the Last Glacial Maximum dry phase. Open access and free to all iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

iopscience.iop.orgTiming of peat initiation across the central Congo Basin. - IOPscienceTiming of peat initiation across the central Congo Basin., Dargie, Greta, Gulliver, Pauline, Lawson, Ian T, Morris, Paul J, Crezee, Bart, Bola, Pierre, Emba Botuli, Ovide, Girkin, Nicholas, Kanyama, Joseph, Biddulph, George, Hawthorne, Donna, Boukono, Déo R. V., Louvouandou, Lisa F., Milandou Matoko, Jodrhy P., Milongo, Brice, Kibongui, Gloire J., Schefuß, Enno, Garcin, Yannick, Bocko, Yannick, Young, Dylan M, Baird, Andy J, Boom, Arnoud, Ewango, Corneille E. N., Averti Ifo, Suspense, Kiahtipes, Chris, Mitchard, Edward T.A., Page, Susan, Sjoegersten, Sofie, Schneider, Ralph R., Tshimanga, Raphael, Trigg, Mark A, Lewis, Simon
Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Three intense days of coring across Lewis’s northern plateau with PhD student Holly Addis, ably assisted by Andy Evans (U. Manchester). Holly has collected a nice set of field measurements as well as a 4.35 m long core for palaeo-environmental analysis back in Leeds. Weather damp, spirits high.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

On the way back to the Isle of Lewis for more fieldwork with PhD student Holly Addis. Incredible sunset coming into Stornoway harbour. Hopefully a good omen for a successful week of coring and exploring.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

We are hiring! Vacancy for an ambitious Lecturer (Assistant Prof.) in the Ecology and Global Change research cluster here at Leeds Geography. Research and teaching in any area of ecology and global change. Full details, including contacts for queries, in link below jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

jobs.leeds.ac.ukJob Opportunity at University of Leeds: Lecturer in Ecology and Global ChangeLecturer in Ecology and Global Change (Teaching and Research)Salary: Grade 8 (£48,149 – £57,422 p.a. depending on experience) This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be ...
Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Our new paper in ERL, led by Owen Sutton & @peatofmind.bsky.social, considers how shallow peatlands could help us understand the response of deeper, more established peats and their huge soil C stocks to ongoing climate warming. Open access and free to all iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

iopscience.iop.orgShallow peatlands as sentinels of climate change - IOPscienceSearchShallow peatlands as sentinels of climate change, Sutton, Owen F, Furukawa, Alex K, Moore, Paul A, Morris, Paul J, Waddington, James M
Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Day 4 on Lewis, and all good things must come to an end. We walked up to the peat plateau from Siabost on the west coast, before exploring some Hebridean history and culture. Crofters’ traditional black house at Arnol, stone circle at Callanish, and the famous Lewis chessmen at Lews Castle Museum.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Day 3 on Lewis. Making our way from Sgiogarstaigh on the rocky north coast up onto the peat plateau in the interior of the island. More peat, more potential field sites, and more glorious weather.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Day 2 from Lewis, this time around Borve in the north west. Stunning peatland landscapes, as far as the eye can see in every direction. Bonus points today for great weather. We are starting to get the lie of the land and making firm plans for “real” sampling later in the year.

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Exploring the incredible peatlands of Lewis, day 1. A big loop from the “bridge to nowhere” in the north east, peat depths up to 4.7 m. Lots of hummocks, lots of peat. So much peat. Also saw a herd of deer who followed us for a while, and ruined stone shepherd sheilings (shelters).

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

16 hours of driving and ferries and we’ve made it from Leeds to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Looking forward to a week scouting out field sites with PhD student Holly Addis and Dr Liam Taylor. Amazed at how far one can travel and still be in the UK

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

A rewarding field day on Friday, showing first year geography students around Ilkley Moor as part of the Dynamic Landscapes module. We covered geology, hillslope processes, natural flood management, ancient human occupation and modern land management. Field season 2025 is up and running!

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

At some coring locations the organic matter layer is too thin to qualify under most definitions of peat, but these nascent peats have established since 1950 and are accumulating rapidly. Minimum LOI and thickness criteria can’t always identify peats satisfactorily.

Paul J. Morris reposted

Tom Roland
@tomroland.bsky.social

🌿 New Paper Alert: Newly Forming Peatlands in Aotearoa/New Zealand! 🌿 Our study shows peat has been accumulating in a recently deglaciated valley in the Southern Alps, Aotearoa/New Zealand, since ∼1949 C.E. As glaciers retreat & climates warm, new peatlands could emerge—key for carbon storage. 1/🧵

Paul J. Morris
@peatbloke.bsky.social

Some clear themes emerging: 1. We need more data to reduce key uncertainties around peat extent, C stocks and vulnerability. 2. We must engage policy makers to protect peatlands and prevent environmental catastrophe. 3. We must empower African scientists.

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