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Why does drained organic soil subside faster in warm climates?
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land reclamation
The Yser River flowing through reclaimed farmland in Belgium.
When organic soils, such as peats and mucks, are drained for land reclamation, the introduction of oxygen into the soil profile accelerates the oxidation of organic matter. This process results in the physical loss of soil material, leading to subsidence of the land surface.1
This subsidence occurs more rapidly in warm climates because high temperatures significantly increase the rate of biological and chemical decomposition. In these warmer environments, the combination of improved aeration and heat promotes a faster breakdown of organic compounds compared to cooler regions, where lower temperatures naturally slow these metabolic and oxidative processes.123