These peatlands have a permanently frozen ground underneath, the permafrost, and the carbon was able to build up in these soils over long periods of time because even though plants are able to photosynthesize during the short, warm summer months, the environment quickly turns cold and dark, and then microbes are not able to efficiently break down the residue.
Estas turfeiras existem num subsolo permanentemente gelado, denominado "permafrost". Durante longos períodos de tempo, o carbono foi-se acumulando nestas zonas apesar da intensa atividade fotossintética das plantas durante os poucos meses quentes de verão, pois o ambiente arrefece e escurece rapidamente, e os micro-organismos deixam de decompor os resíduos de forma eficaz.