{"id":93792,"date":"2022-12-21T11:10:07","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T11:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=93792"},"modified":"2024-03-12T13:15:28","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T13:15:28","slug":"five-places-in-yorkshire-to-assess-key-geological-hazards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/five-places-in-yorkshire-to-assess-key-geological-hazards\/","title":{"rendered":"Five places in Yorkshire to assess key geological hazards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In July 2022, the BGS Hazard Products team visited Yorkshire to assess some key geological hazards. The trip was an opportunity for the team to gain insight into the natural processes and geological features that underpin many of the digital data products they develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team has a diverse skill set, from expertise in Python coding and GIS analysis to engaging with stakeholders and developing business relationships with partners and clients. This melting pot of skills allowed the team to consider geological hazards and potential solutions from a unique perspective and prompted useful discussions around translating BGS science into user-oriented digital hazard solutions as well as the quality and availability of input data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team spent two days in the field studying a range of geological hazards in action and considered the strengths and limitations of existing BGS geohazard data products to determine areas for future development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sutton Bank<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sutton Bank is a near-vertical, around 140 m-high cliff in Jurassic strata representing about 60 million years of geological time. During the last ice age, about 20 thousand years ago, a lobe of ice extended southwards in this lowland area between the North York Moors and the Pennines. As the ice flowed along the western edge of the moors, it gouged out the soft underlying rocks of the Lower Jurassic, leaving the escarpment you see today.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t

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The hazard products team atop Sutton Bank discussing the glacial history of the Vale of York. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\"Panorama
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Panorama from Sutton Bank viewpoint looking west over the Vale of York. Photo \u00a9 Chris Heaton<\/a> (cc-by-sa\/2.0<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n

The clifftop panorama showcases a complex lowland landscape underlain by a mixture of superficial deposits and bedrock. As the ice melted and retreated, it deposited till and outwash deposits, which shaped the landscape we see from the viewpoint today. For example, Gormire Lake, located just below the escarpment at Sutton Bank, formed as a result of glacial deposits blocking drainage channels and trapping water behind them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sutton Bank National Park Centre<\/a> is situated at the top of the escarpment, with parking, visitor centre, toilets and caf\u00e9. A short walk leads to a viewpoint with a panoramic view across the previously glaciated vale.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

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This location was really useful to visualise the landscape of the area and understand how glacial periods in Earth\u2019s history had imprinted on this landscape. It provided useful context for the field sites to come.<\/p>\n

Jenny Richardson.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

Relevant data products<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n