Groundwater dynamics in mountain peatlands with contrasting climate, vegetation, and hydrogeological setting

•Groundwater dynamics were investigated in two contrasting mountain peatlands.•Hydrological field investigations were combined with empirical models.•Evapotranspiration was much higher for a sloping peatland than a basin peatland.•Groundwater inflow was considerably less for the basin fen.•Monsoon rain helped sustain a near-surface water table at the basin peatland.