Remotely operated sensors are being trialled to help monitor the health of peatland in the Hebrides.

Scotland’s peatlands are an important natural habitat and store an estimated total of 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon.

Experts said this was the equivalent of about 140 years of Scotland’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.

In a year-long trial, sensors have been installed to measure water content in peat around Loch Orasaigh in the Western Isles.

Peat degrades if it becomes dried out, raising the risk of harmful greenhouse gases being released.

READ MORE:  BBC