UK Compiled Topsoil (UKTS) raster dataset

The UK Compiled Topsoil Dataset (UKTS) is the most extensive topsoil geochemistry dataset for the UK available at the time of release (August 2024). The dataset consists of 82 georeferenced TIFF raster images (GeoTIFF format) with a cell size of 500 x 500 m, displaying the predicted concentrations for 41 chemical elements in UK topsoil and their respective standard error. The dataset is based on the geochemical analyses of 57,966 topsoil samples collected between 1978 and 2014 and analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The UKTS was brought together by combining data from the following sources: i. the British Geological Survey’s (BGS) Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) rural and urban topsoil dataset (which accounts for 76.4% of the topsoil samples included in the UKTS) ii. the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) TellusNI rural and urban topsoil geochemical survey dataset (13.8% of the UKTS samples) iii. the BGS-Rothamsted Research X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) rural soil dataset (RR-BGS XRF), based on sub-samples held at Rothamsted Research from the National Soil Inventory (NSI) of England and Wales sample archive, National Soil Resources Institute, Cranfield University (9.8% of the UKTS samples). An atlas of the compiled topsoil concentrations for the UK is available to download ( https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535963) and all maps are available to view within the UK Soil Observatory website ( https://www.ukso.org). The dataset covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Clyde Basin in Scotland. The GeoTIFF raster image maps were produced from the interpolation by ordinary kriging of the concentration values in the source data points, using the geostatistical wizard in the geostatistical analyst toolbox of ESRI ArcGIS 10.8.

Date (Creation): 2023-03-20

Citation identifier: http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608069

Point of contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Distributor
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Originator
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Distributor
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Originator
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Principal investigator
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Distributor
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Point of contact

Maintenance and update frequency: Not planned

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Geology

BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences

Geochemical data
X ray fluorescence spectroscopy
Geochemistry
Spatial data
Kriging
Variograms
UK Location (INSPIRE)
Top soil

dataCentre

UK Location (INSPIRE)

Keywords

NERC_DDC

Access constraints: Other restrictions

Other constraints: no limitations

Other constraints: The dataset is made freely available for access, e.g. via the Internet. Either no third party data / information is contained in the dataset or BGS has secured written permission from the owner(s) of any third party data / information contained in the dataset to make the dataset freely accessible.

Use constraints: Other restrictions

Other constraints: The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.

Other constraints: Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]"

Spatial representation type: Grid

Denominator: 1000000

Denominator: 2500000

Language: English

Topic category

Geoscientific information

Geographic identifier: GB
ISO 3166_1 alpha-3 2009 revision

Geographic identifier: UK [id=139300]
British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus 1979 creation

Geographic identifier: UKM
ISO 3166_2 2009 revision

Begin date: 1978

End date: 2023-03

Unique resource identifier: OSGB 1936 / British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Unique resource identifier: WGS 84 (EPSG::4326)

Distribution format

Name	Version
GeoTIFF image (.tif, .tiff)

Distributor contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Distributor

Distributor contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	enquiries@bgs.ac.uk	Distributor

Distributor contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Distributor

OnLine resource

Protocol	Linkage	Name
	https://www.bgs.ac.uk/geological-data/opengeoscience/map-data-downloads/	Map data downloads BGS Data – OpenGeoscience Homepage

OnLine resource

Protocol	Linkage	Name
	https://doi.org/10.5285/76b69adf-699b-4032-a751-2db0991d55f6	Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

OnLine resource

Protocol	Linkage	Name
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link	https://www.ukso.org/	UKSO - UK Soil Observatory Homepage

Hierarchy level: Dataset

Other: dataset

Conformance result

Title: INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology

Date (Publication): 2011

Explanation: See the referenced specification

Pass: No

Conformance result

Title: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

Date (Publication): 2010-12-08

Explanation: See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF

Pass: No

Statement: The 57,966 topsoil data points of the source data are a combination of data from three main sources, namely the BGS G-BASE rural and urban topsoil data, the GSNI TellusNI rural and urban topsoil data and the RR-BGS XRF, accounting for 76.4%, 13.8% and 9.8% of the source data points respectively. Source data points are unevenly distributed, varying from 1 sample per 25 km2 in the RR-BGS XRF to 4 samples per 1 km2 in urban centres sampled by the G-BASE and TellusNI projects. The predicted concentration maps reflect this uneven sampling density with less 'smooth' geochemical features in areas of the map where sampling density is higher, given the options made during the ordinary kriging.