Current Knowledge of the UK’s subsurface · 2016-04-05 · • Providing relevant and accessible subsurface knowledge is at the core of our strategy • We combine primary observation

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Current Knowledge of the UK’s subsurface….and evolving national good needs

Andy Howard* & Jon Ford


1. BGS surveys and monitoring2. Integrated and multi-disciplinary approaches3. Re-purposing 3rd party data4. Examples of impact5. Future priorities

Current Knowledge of the UK’s subsurface


Geological maps2d presentation, implicit 3d geology (…for geologists)

1:50 000 scale geological map of the Selby district


Subsurface syntheses


National Geological Model

• UK3D: successor to the geological map of the UK

• National resource that will evolve in respond to:• emerging demands• new national data• new understanding and techniques

• Increasingly ‘rich’ representation• Continue to provide an impartial

reference-frame for the UK subsurface

Cross-section through the Chalk showing changes in rock-type


National Geological Model

• Foundation for regional and national studies:• groundwater applications

(Environment Agency)• National Geological

Screening (Radioactive Waste Management Ltd)

• scientific investigation• Single model – multiple

applications• Peer-reviewed, open publication• Accessible by a wide-range of

stakeholders


Regional Gravity and Aeromagnetics


Tellus Environmental and Resource Surveys - Ireland

Aeromagnetic data Multi-frequency EM data

U-Th-K radiometric data


Tellus SW - Airborne GeophysicsMagnetics

3D geology with depth of focus

Radiometrics, U, Th, K Surface geology and

soils

Deep geology and structure, Ore bodies and veins, Major fault and fracture systems

Soil minerals and chemistrySoil carbon stocks and wetnessRadiogenic (geothermal) heat


Geochemical Baselines - GBase

London Earth soil geochemistry


G-Base soil geochemistry


……merging baseline surveys

Geology

Geochemistry

Geophysics


Multi-component modelling


Baseline monitoringGroundwater, seismicity, soil gas, ground motion, national to local scale


Borehole Data.. >2million records


Borehole sources……Ground Investigation, water, minerals, coal, hydrocarbons, science, geothermal…..


National Geological Repository

BH core and images

Core examination facilities


2d and 3D Seismic Onshore UK

Source: UK Onshore Geophysical Library UKOGL

http://ukogl.org.uk/

http://ukogl.org.uk/


Soil Parent Material Map

Derived and thematic 2D products

Landslides

Radon

Flooding

Soluble rocksAquifer type


2012 OlympicPark

BuckinghamPalace

St Paul’s Cathedral

Lithostratigraphy

Artificial GroundAlluvium

Bagshot FormationLondon Clay FmHarwich FormationLambeth GroupThanet Sand FmChalk Group

River TerracesColluvium

Engineering classification

Very soft

Very soft

Very dense

Very stiff

Very stiff

Firm to stiff

Very loose

Fine limestone - chalk

Fine (engineering) soils

Variable (engineering) soils

Coarse (engineering) soils

Derived and thematic 3D products


Geological foundations for cities

Downloads per 10km2

• Urbanisation places growing and potentially competing demands on the subsurface

• A common understanding of the geology enables effective decision-making in cities

• Wealth of subsurface data exists• BGS 3D models add value to 3rd-party

data for the public national goodNational archive of 3rd-party borehole data for London


Knowledge exchange networks


Models for groundwater management


Groundwater modelling in chalk aquifers

“From concept to reality”

Conceptual model of the groundwater

system in the chalk

Numerical simulation of high and low water table in geological framework

Models for groundwater management


Geothermal potential

GSHP screening tool

Mine water heat, Glasgowand SW Coalfield

Temperature at 1000m depth slice


Models for Carbon Storage

600 years after injection


Thematic reports3rd party data merged with 3d mapping and peer reviewed science


Future prioritiesResources, fluid processes, geomechanical behaviour, human timescales, spatial context

• Shallow subsurface, weathering and anthropogenic change

• Faults, fractures, joints• Heterogeneity within formations• Physical and geomechanical

properties• Quality inconsistencies• Representation of uncertainty• Multiscale/multi-theme integration


Summary• BGS is the nation’s principal source of impartial geological data,

information and knowledge• Providing relevant and accessible subsurface knowledge is at

the core of our strategy• We combine primary observation with syntheses of

diverse 3rd-party data to develop and add confidence to

this knowledge

• Our diverse portfolio of public national good science enables effective decision-making by government, industry and the public

www.BGS.ac.uk@[email protected]

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Current Knowledge of the UK’s subsurface · 2016-04-05 · • Providing relevant and accessible subsurface knowledge is at the core of our strategy • We combine primary observation