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Enhancing the Visualisation and Analysis of Geotechnical Properties. Examples from the 3D Volume Change Potential of UK Clay Soils
Get PDFGround shrinkage due to shrink–swell clay soils is the most damaging geohazard in the UK, costing the economy an estimated £3.4B over the past 10 years. The towns, cities and infrastructure most susceptible to this shrink–swell behaviour are found mainly in the southeast of the country. Ten of these clay-rich soils have been used in this study. The Volume Change Potential (VCP) of a soil is the relative change in volume to be expected with changes in soil moisture content and is reflected by shrinking and swelling of the ground. Variations in plasticity with area and with depth can be depicted using purely statistical methods. To construct a more representative model of spatial VCP variation in clay-rich formations a more sophisticated 3-D interpolation is required, such as lithofacies modelling which can be used to produce multiple realisations of the variation of parameters, such as the lithology, across a domain where there is an abundance of XYZ data from boreholes or point samples. Virtalis GeoVisionary provides a means of viewing the lithofacies type generated data in a fully immersive 3-D environment. Similar visualisation can be carried out against many environmental parameters and geoscience datasets such as borehole, geophysical data, point clouds, CAD models etc. Voxel models are easily imported and are able to be visualised in their ’true’ spatial position, overlying geology or standard maps. The Geosure Shrink–Swell 3D dataset, created using Esri ArcGIS, provides a regional susceptibility model of potential shrink–swell hazard in the London and Thames Valley area. 2-D representations based on statistical analyses show general trends; but with large amounts of data unevenly spread over a wide area, the detail is lost. 3-D models, such as those created using voxelated facies techniques, provide a seamless interpolation and deliver a visualization of VCP that can be interpreted across a variety of depths
A lidar based national model of hedgerows and other woody linear features in rural England
Get PDFHedgerows and other woody linear features (WLF) are important semi-natural habitats, cultural features and potential carbon stores in farmland across several regions of the world, particularly Western Europe. Monitoring WLF has been limited by difficulties of mapping their extent and dimensions at large scales. Remote sensing can overcome such limitations by mapping WLF at high resolution at the national scale, but examples are few and generally more localized. We tested whether openly available, 1 m2 resolution lidar could be used within a high-performance computing environment to model the extent and height of the WLF coverage in England. The results were compared with comprehensive ground truthing within 248 × 1 km2 sample squares. There was close agreement (99.7 %) between the mean and total extent of WLF from the model and ground truthing squares, with 74 % of modelled WLF showing close alignment (<20 m distance) with ground truthed WLF. Total length of WLF in England was estimated as 641,079.8 km, with 29 % composed of trees/bushes taller than 6 m, and 61 % (389,439.3 km) corresponding to managed hedgerows of 1–6 m tall. Precise agreement between height classes in the model and sample squares was more modest (36 % of WLF lengths), but higher (60 %) if allowing a tolerance of ±1 height class for matching to accommodate temporal differences between lidar collection (2016–2021) and ground truthing (2022–2023). The model represents a significant improvement in mapping and monitoring WLF using openly available national lidar, and the limitations and potential opportunities are discussed
Antarctic and Arctic Seaweeds: Reassessing Diversity, Ecophysiological Adaptations, Connections and Changes in Biogeographical Distribution as a Survival Strategy Facing Meteorological and Oceanographic Changes
No full textDiversity, distribution and biogeographical aspects of polar macroalgae must be reassessed as they face contemporary environmental changes. Macroalgae are the basis of the marine food web, efficient carbon sinks, biogenic habitats and promoters of homeostasis in the oceans. Additionally, algae synthesise bioactive compounds that are used or potentially usable industrially. Algal growth can be limited and sensitive to thermohaline, nutrient, light and pH patterns. Furthermore, as the polar regions drive global climate and oceanographic circulations and as their ecosystems are highly sensitive to changes, their monitoring is essential. In 2012, Wiencke and Amsler published the first compilation of polar macroalgal studies. In this chapter, after a further decade and the intensification of global changes, we revisit this subject, hypothesising that polar biogeographic isolation is being broken, driven by meteorological and oceanographic changes and/or extreme events which alter algal dispersal patterns, resulting in more connected ecosystems. We focus on species richness and diversity, cryptic, cryptogenic and endemic taxa, setting out to reassess the distributions and connections of Antarctic and Arctic seaweed assemblages and species. Current abiotic data are associated with species lists in order to address macroecological aspects, focusing on endemism, ecotones, connections and changes in the biogeographical distribution of these seaweed communities. This data compilation is relevant for the selection of key areas for monitoring in Antarctica and the Arctic that will be fundamental for the identification and interpretation of the impacts of environmental changes on this biota, as well as in supporting conservation actions and advancing polar ocean science
In vivo measurement of xenobiotic detoxification in annelids: ECOD activity in a terrestrial, a freshwater, and an estuarine worm
Get PDFCytochrome monooxygenases (CYPs) play a pivotal role in xenobiotic detoxification through chemical biotransformation. In vitro methods for measuring these CYPs commonly rely on samples obtained from homogenised tissues. Such preparations, however, often lead to enzyme degradation and auto-inhibition, rendering them unsuitable for some species. Methods to quantify CYP activity in vivo have been proposed as an alternative to the use of homogenised tissues. However, such methods remain limited, especially for soil- and sediment-dwelling species. This study aimed to adapt and validate an in vivo 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethyllase (ECOD) assay previously used for aquatic invertebrates to measure CYP-dependent enzyme activity in three annelid species: Enchytraeus crypticus (terrestrial oligochaete), Capitella teleta (estuarine sediment-dwelling polychaete), and Tubifex tubifex (freshwater sediment-dwelling oligochaete) exposed in water. The successful development and use of the assay demonstrated ECOD activity in E. crypticus and C. teleta, with activity in C. teleta up to 17 times higher than in E. crypticus per milligram wet weight. In contrast, no measurable ECOD activity was observed in T. tubifex, likely reflecting assay sensitivity limitations for this species. CYP inhibition studies with azole fungicides (propiconazole, imazalil) confirmed that the assay is able to detect concentration-dependent CYP inhibition in E. crypticus, highlighting the potential of the method for toxicological assessments of CYP activity and its inhibition or induction. To our knowledge, this study is the first to develop and apply an in vivo assay to measure CYP activity in a terrestrial and annelid species
Novel pennate diatom symbionts support high N2 fixation rates
Get PDFDiazotrophy is the most important nitrogen source in the oligotrophic surface ocean, but the organisms involved and their contributions are incompletely understood due to limited observations. Only diazotrophic organisms possess the nifH gene to reduce dinitrogen to ammonium, but their distribution and activity can only be quantified through sampling and experiments during research cruises. Some recent studies document small diatoms with symbionts able to fix nitrogen, a new source of biologically available nitrogen in addition to the well-known cyanobacterial species such as Trichodesmium or symbionts of haptophytes (UCYN-A) and diatoms (Diatom–Diazotroph Associations, or DDAs). Here, we document a very active symbiosis between small pennate diatoms such as Mastogloia and Haslea with rhizobial and cyanobacterial symbionts in waters of the Western tropical North Atlantic influenced by the Amazon River plume. We used NanoSIMS analysis of 15N2 tracer experiments to quantify high rates of nitrogen fixation in generally abundant, symbiont-bearing pennate diatoms. This newly described symbiosis may contribute a previously unquantified flux of biologically available nitrogen to oceanic systems. Pennate diatoms and their symbionts may close a key gap in our understanding of the supply of nutrients to the ocean and provide a previously unknown biological sink for carbon dioxide
Almost seven decades of coastal bird community recovery across three European seas
No full textMarine ecosystems have been historically impacted by human activities, leading to significant declines in biodiversity. Despite conservation efforts and the establishment of protected areas over recent decades, many marine species remain threatened. Here, we used a large-scale database of 308 time series of coastal bird communities collected between 1957 and 2024 across three European regional seas to assess how abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity have changed over the past decades, and to evaluate the effect of conservation areas on coastal bird communities. Our results showed overall increases in taxonomic richness (1.7% per year on average), taxonomic diversity (1.4%), abundance (2.7%), functional richness (4.1%) and functional evenness (0.7%) of coastal bird communities. Although these overall increases were similar across the three seas investigated, they were not uniform within them. Recovery in the Western Mediterranean Sea occurred primarily between 1970 and 2000, while in the Baltic Sea, increases have occurred since 1995. For the Baltic Sea, we also found that taxonomic and functional richness, along with total abundance, are increasing more rapidly in wintering compared to breeding communities. Besides the overall mean increases, trends were highly variable across sites, including 4.5% of them experiencing significant declines in species richness, 5.2% in taxonomic diversity, and 13.3% in abundance. This site-scale variability underscores the need for targeted conservation strategies that address local challenges. Our results also showed the relevance of conservation areas for coastal birds, especially those strictly protected. However, the effectiveness of protection depends on additional factors beyond the formal protection status alone. As some anthropogenic pressures persist, additional conservation actions are needed to ensure that marine bird communities continue to recover, but also to maintain stability in those populations that may have reached their carrying capacity
Microplastics pollution modulated by farming regimes under multi-scenarios
No full textWith the growing challenge of microplastics (MPs) pollution, long-term real-time monitoring of MPs distribution remained difficult. Using nationwide field data and machine learning, we investigated MPs abundance and size distribution across China, key drivers, and future trends of MPs under multi-scenarios: sustainable development scenarios (SDSs), business-as-usual scenario (BAU), and high-forcing scenarios (HFSs). Results indicated that the average abundance of MPs in agricultural soils was 2,176 items/kg in 2020, with most particles smaller than 1 mm. The history of mulching film use (HistMF) was identified as the dominant factor influencing both MPs abundance and size, while climate variables such as radiation, temperature, and humidity further intensified fragmentation. Without intervention, MPs could exceed 10,000 items/kg by 2050 under the HFS. This research highlighted the need to strengthen mulching film production and plastic waste management in farmlands, particularly in regions with extreme climatic conditions, and provided scientific support for MPs control
Waste and scrap flows in the UK: assessing copper and tungsten
No full textCritical minerals are those crucial for a variety of modern technologies, infrastructure and
industries but have global supply risks which need careful assessment to inform policy options
and possible mitigations. This study was delivered by the United Kingdom (UK) Critical Minerals
Intelligence Centre (CMIC) which is funded by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
and hosted by the British Geological Survey (BGS). CMIC’s primary objective is to support the
UK Government’s ambitions around resilient and sustainable critical minerals supply chains for
the UK economy and needs.
The principal aims of this study were twofold: to assess copper and tungsten waste and scrap
flows in the UK economy and to explore available economic and trade data to better understand
how this could be used to inform circularity of resource use in the UK. Copper was chosen as a
metal with widespread use but, given its diversified global supply, is not designated a critical
mineral for the UK (whilst acknowledging concerns about the future of global copper mine
supplies). Tungsten was chosen as it is designated a critical mineral for the UK; it has a
concentrated global supply chain (dominated by China), the UK has one of the world’s largest
tungsten deposits (at Hemerdon in Devon) but parts of its supply chain remain an enigma due
to poor data resolution.
The study demonstrates that for copper there are significant opportunities to reduce substantial
copper losses contained in waste and scrap exports. Current exports of copper waste and scrap
are valued at £1.06 billion yet the contained copper is worth £1.45 billion. This means that the
UK is not capturing the value that the secondary copper resource represents, providing a major
opportunity to improve the circularity of copper in the UK. At present, there are no refinery
facilities to process secondary copper waste and scrap in the UK, meaning this is an important
way that the UK could improve the circularity of its copper use. For tungsten, the study has
shown that various uncertainties or inconsistencies remain in the available data, but the
amounts of tungsten are typically modest and finding clear opportunities for improving circularity
requires further research (especially extensive stakeholder engagement, collaboration and data
synthesis).
The cases of copper and tungsten in the UK demonstrate that there are potentially significant
opportunities for future improvement, including increased collection, separation, and functional
recycling, as well as product development to reduce dissipation loss. Also, the waste and scrap
from manufacturing processes may be managed in such a way that it can be kept for future use
as a resource if new technology makes recycling it possible.
This study presents unique case studies on the current flows of copper and tungsten to and
from the UK economy. The results provide a strong basis for demonstrating the benefits of
improving circularity through new infrastructure, such as a secondary copper refinery. They also
identify areas where more detailed research is needed, for example, tungsten circularity
Soil-biodegradable mulch film: distinguishing between persistent microplastics and fragments released from certified soil-biodegradable products
No full textSoil-biodegradable mulch films offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics in agriculture, especially where recollection or recycling are impractical. However, biodegradation of these materials must not result in the formation of persistent microplastics. This study investigates the fragmentation and biodegradation of the certified soil-biodegradable mulch film ecovio® M2351 in standardized laboratory conditions (ISO 17556). The material was incubated in agricultural soil in two different forms: cryomilled fragments and 1 cm2 film pieces. Fragment formation was quantified using μ-FTIR microscopy. Biodegradation as well as fragmentation kinetics were modelled by the open-source mechanistic FRAGMENT-MNP model. Results demonstrate that fragmentation is a transient phase within the biodegradation process, with particle counts transitionally peaking, then declining as mineralization progresses. Cryomilled fragments exhibited faster biodegradation and more pronounced fragmentation than larger film pieces. When biodegradation experiments were stopped, more than 90 % of the polymeric carbon was converted into CO2 and residual fragments showed comparable chemical composition to the original material but showed significantly reduced molar masses, indicating that the biodegradation was still progressing. This is supported by the model, predicting that particle concentrations will decrease to below one particle per gram of soil within 600–700 days for both scenarios. These findings confirm that certified soil-biodegradable polymers like ecovio® M2351 do not form persistent microplastics. The combined experimental and modelling approach provides mechanistic insights into the interplay between fragmentation and mineralization and could be further improved by additional measurements of fragments <25 μm and of the polymer mass in the dissolved phase. In future, field data can support the extrapolation of the model predictions to the real-world
Hydrological summary for the United Kingdom: November 2025
No full textThe monthly summary of hydrological conditions in the United Kingdom is compiled as part of the National Hydrological Monitoring Programme (a joint UKCEH and BGS enterprise). The report features contemporary data for rainfall, river flow, reservoir and groundwater levels in the form of maps and graphs. A commentary is provided on the status of the nation’s water resources and any notable hydrological events during the month. The National River Flow and National Groundwater Level Archives help provide an historical context for these contemporary assessments. Financial support for the production of the Hydrological Summaries is provided by Defra, the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland and the Office of Water Services
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