The use of small-scale surface patterns in the classification of British Peatlands

The vegetation and surface patterns of five ombrotrophic mires from northern Britain were surveyed in some detail to determine the relationships, if any, which existed between the various elements of the microtopography and the vegetation. A total of 22 noda were recognised for the 5 sites, some of which were widely distributed, others were restricted to one site. The noda were found to be closely linked to six identifiable elements in the microtopography. The distribution of these elements and their significance for classification purposes are discussed

The ability of societies to adapt to twenty-first-century sea-level rise

Against the background of potentially substantial sea-level rise, one important question is to what extent are coastal societies able to adapt? This question is often answered in the negative by referring to sinking islands and submerged megacities. Although these risks are real, the picture is incomplete because it lacks consideration of adaptation. This Perspective explores societies' abilities to adapt to twenty-first-century sea-level rise by integrating perspectives from coastal engineering, economics, finance and social sciences, and provides a comparative analysis of a set of cases that vary in terms of technological limits, economic and financial barriers to adaptation and social conflicts