G-BASE trials of SIGMA digital field data capture : feedback and recommendations

One of the aims of SIGMA (System for Integrated Geospatial Mapping) is to evaluate current methods of field data collection and mapping in an attempt to increase efficiency where possible (Jordan et al. 2002). The G-BASE programme is one of several across BGS that was supplied with ‘digital notebooks’ (i.e. PDAs [Personal Digital Assistants] running customised software) and accessories such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and digital cameras in order to assess the impacts of digital field data capture on their fieldwork. This report provides feedback to the ongoing SIGMA Toolkit testing programme from the 2004 G-BASE field season. The capture of digital field data and the transfer of data into a desktop database was carried out in two testing phases: firstly within the scope of the G-BASE regional and urban sampling campaign of 2004 in East Anglia and secondly in Keyworth in December 2004. Due to heavy workloads and extremely tight schedules before the field season, an introduction and formal training to operate the HP iPAQ hardware and customised ArcPad software was not held and operators only had a brief overview of the system before commencing their work in the field. Therefore it took longer for G-BASE staff to become familiar with the devices during the 2004 field campaign and so trials under real field sampling conditions were limited. The devices were, however, handed out to experienced volunteer workers who carried out the sampling and digital recording of field observations. To supplement this rather limited testing, a second trial was carried out at BGS Keyworth after the field season to gain additional information about the application of the digital devices. Andreas Scheib carried out trials in Keyworth with support from Paul Turner and Emma Bee. After both field trials were complete, the captured data was successfully transferred into the G-BASE field database

GEMAS : low density geochemical data for arable and grazing land soils of the UK

This report presents low density geochemical data for arable and grazing land soil from the UK. These soil samples were collected by BGS in 2008 as part of the for EuroGeoSurvey’s (EGS) GEochemical MApping of agricultural and grazing land Soil of Europe (GEMAS) project. The first phase of the project involved the collection of soil samples across each participating country at a sample density of 1 per 2500 km2. The BGS contribution for the UK is documented in a separate report IR/08/068. Following collection all samples were prepared and analysed by ICP (AES and MS) following aqua regia extraction. Quality control of the geochemical data was carried out, before each member state received their data individually. This report provides a primary record and presentation of the soil geochemical data for 49 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, Hg, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn and Zr) for the 290 soil samples collected in the UK. Additional to the results of element concentrations this report also presents data on pH, total organic carbon (TOC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) determined for arable (Ap) and grazing land (Gr) soil samples. The data are displayed as a series of graduated coloured dot maps alongside basic summary statistics to provide an initial overview of the data

GEMAS: source, distribution patterns and geochemical behaviour of Ge in agricultural and grazing land soils at European continental scale

Agricultural soil (Ap-horizon, 0-20 cm) and grazing land soil (Gr-horizon, 0-10 cm) samples were collected from a large part of Europe (33 countries, 5.6 million km2) as part of the GEMAS (Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) soil mapping project. GEMAS soil data have been used to provide a general view of element mobility and source rocks at the continental scale, either by reference to average crustal abundances or to normalized patterns of element mobility during weathering processes

Investigation of G-BASE regional soil geochemistry over Pleistocene till deposits in East Anglia using factor analysis

This report presents the application of Factor Analysis (FA) using geochemical data of topsoil samples to investigate the geochemical composition and distribution of Pleistocene Tills in East Anglia. The first part of the report introduces the background, aims and context of this particular study. The second part summarises the methodologies, covering Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) sample collection, analytical procedures and the geological setting of the study area. Section 3 presents the results of Factor Analysis, which is followed by a discussion and conclusions

Geochemical characteristics of urban centres within the UK

The British Geological Survey’s Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment project (G-BASE) is responsible for the systematic geochemical mapping of the land surface of Great Britain. Samples of soils, stream sediments and stream waters collected at an average density of 1 sample per 1.5 km2 are determined for up to 46 elements/parameters. The project has covered over three-quarters of the U.K providing a comprehensive overview of the baseline geochemistry of Great Britain

Iodine and selenium in soils from East Anglia, UK

The importance of iodine and selenium in human and animal health is already widely recognised, and targeted studies have been undertaken in many areas of chronic deficiency problems, as well as those of selenosis (excess selenium

Investigating glacial sediment provenance in Northern Ireland using principal component analysis of Tellus soil geochemical data

This report describes results of a preliminary study using Tellus soil geochemical baseline data to investigate the character and spatial variation of glacial deposits located north and south of the Armoy Moraine which marks the limit of two different ice flow events in north Northern Ireland. The first part of the report introduces the study area and describes the regional glacial geomorphology and soil geochemical and geological data The second part of this report discusses the multivariate analysis used to interrogate the soil geochemical data with the aims of a) establishing element associations for the different glacial deposits, b) ascribing these geochemical signatures to potential source bedrock and, as a result of these c) reconstructing ice flow trajectories. This preliminary study has established that there are distinct geochemical variations in soils derived over glacigenic sediments and related landforms in the area north and south of the Armoy Moraine, which supports the case that they have been formed by ice flowing from different directions. . Indicator elements for soils formed north of the Armoy Moraine in the area glaciated by an ice advance made by the Scottish ice sheet, that flowed onshore and created the Armoy Moraine, are rare earth elements (REE) Ce and La, as well as Nb As, Th and Rb. Soils south of the Armoy Moraine that formed over glacial sediments and landforms that were generated by ice flowing northwards out of the Lough Neagh basin are dominated by the geochemistry of major oxides and base metals. Key indicator elements are Co, Ni, V, Fe2O3, MgO and Cr, which tie them to basalts of the Antrim Lava Group of the Antrim plateau. This study shows that geochemical baseline data is an an important tool for investigating glacial sediments and geomorphological features formed by glacial ice advances and offers real potential to help unravel former ice sheet histories

The advanced soil geochemical atlas of England and Wales

The total concentration of different elements in the soil – its geochemistry – has implications for both human and animal health. For example, soil geochemistry influences the availability of a range of essential and potentially toxic elements which has implications for their uptake by grazing animals and crops. Understanding the natural or geogenic concentrations of elements in the soil can help to determine whether, and the extent to which, soil may have been contaminated by anthropogenic activities. Much of the variation in the concentration of major and trace elements in the soil is accounted for by the parent material from which the soil formed (Rawlins et al., 2003). The analyses presented in this – the advanced atlas are for those soil samples collected for the National Soil Inventory (NSI) by the Soil Survey of England and Wales (now the National Soil Resources Institute, Cranfield University, UK) as described in McGrath and Loveland (1992) in the Soil Geochemical Atlas of England and Wales. The geochemical analyses presented in the original atlas were for a series of 17 elements. The advanced atlas presents analyses for a total of 53 elements which includes the original 17 elements. A periodic table shows those elements for which analyses are available. The geochemical maps, descriptions of the spatial distribution of each element and summary statistics can be accessed through clicking the symbol for each element