The geosystem and ecosystem services that are provided by near-surface geological resources in upland landscapes play important roles in our resilience to environmental change, including:
- carbon storage
- natural flood management
- regulating sediment transfer processes
An organic soil depth map for a 9 km2 catchment in the western Scottish Highlands. BGS © UKRI.
The A83 Rest and Be Thankful Pass in Glen Croe is an important infrastructure corridor in western Scotland. BGS © UKRI.
Our geomorphologists and geologists combine the use of high-resolution, remote-sensing data, field investigation, GIS analyses and geological modelling approaches to improve how near-surface geology can be characterised and predicted in upland environments. We are engaged in work to better predict parameters such as organic layer depth and sediment thickness, and develop approaches to improve mapping of near-surface geological processes in upland infrastructure corridors.
Our work involves strong collaboration with the groundwater, sea floor (‘source to sink’), coastal and estuaries, and shallow geohazards areas of research in BGS.
Contact
If you want to discover more then please contact Andrew Finlayson.
Find out more about our sustainable soils research
Soils and landscapes
Understanding soil structure and soil and moisture dynamics in UK and African soils and the effects of increasing human populations, changing climates and the intensification in the use of our soils.
Soil Parent Material Model
The Soil Parent Material Model details the distribution of properties of the weathered and unweathered soil parent materials of Great Britain.
Rest and Be Thankful Pass, A83, Argyll and Bute (2012)
Following a period of heavy rain, on 1 August 2012 a debris flow landslide occurred along the A83 Rest and Be Thankful pass (Argyll and Bute, Scotland).
Geological controls of soil element toxicity on human health
Measuring the concentration of potentially harmful elements in soils and sediments is an important tool for monitoring environmental pollution.
You may also be interested in
Soil Parent Material Model
The Soil Parent Material Model details the distribution of properties of the weathered and unweathered soil parent materials of Great Britain.
Soils and landscapes
Understanding soil structure and soil and moisture dynamics in UK and African soils and the effects of increasing human populations, changing climates and the intensification in the use of our soils.
Geological controls of soil element toxicity on human health
Measuring the concentration of potentially harmful elements in soils and sediments is an important tool for monitoring environmental pollution.
Shallow geohazards
Measuring, recording and analysing near-surface geological hazards including landslides, sinkholes and discontinuities.