BGS Environmental Change, Adaptation and Resilience
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Melanie Leng (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Waters C
(2019)
Lithological and chemostratigraphic discrimination of facies within the Bowland Shale Formation within the Craven and Edale basins, UK
in Petroleum Geoscience
Upton K
(2019)
Modelling boreholes in complex heterogeneous aquifers
in Environmental Modelling & Software
Humphrey OS
(2019)
Investigating the use of microdialysis and SEC-UV-ICP-MS to assess iodine interactions in soil solution.
in Chemosphere
Middleton D
(2019)
Environmental geochemistry and cancer: a pertinent global health problem requiring interdisciplinary collaboration
in Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Graham J
(2019)
Using water chemistry to define ecological preferences within the moss genus Scorpidium, from Wales, UK
in Journal of Bryology
Middleton DRS
(2019)
A comparative assessment of dilution correction methods for spot urinary analyte concentrations in a UK population exposed to arsenic in drinking water.
in Environment international
Ascott M
(2019)
Analysis of the impact of hydraulic properties and climate change on estimations of borehole yields
in Journal of Hydrology
Humphrey OS
(2019)
Iodine uptake, storage and translocation mechanisms in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).
in Environmental geochemistry and health
| Description | The environmental change, adaptation and resilience challenge area seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social human infrastructure and biological systems to relatively sudden change. This requires us to understand our natural environment, anthropogenic interaction with the subsurface and environmental response, and to model associated change. To do this we will continue to research our groundwater, sea floor, coasts, soils and landscapes, and urban infrastructural interactions with the subsurface. It is likely that climate change will continue to be a major societal problem and its effects will last many years, and adaptation will be necessary. Adaptation is especially important in developing countries since they are likely to bear the brunt of the effects of global warming. This challenge area aims to help with societal needs and protect our environment; our research is underpinned by excellent laboratories and science capabilities for the delivery of evidence-based science. |
| Exploitation Route | N/A |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Environment Financial Services and Management Consultancy Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice |
| Description | The environmental change, adaptation and resilience challenge area seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social human infrastructure and biological systems to relatively sudden change. This requires us to understand our natural environment, anthropogenic interaction with the subsurface and environmental response, and to model associated change. To do this we will continue to research our groundwater, sea floor, coasts, soils and landscapes, and urban infrastructural interactions with the subsurface. It is likely that climate change will continue to be a major societal problem and its effects will last many years, and adaptation will be necessary. Adaptation is especially important in developing countries since they are likely to bear the brunt of the effects of global warming. This challenge area aims to help with societal needs and protect our environment; our research is underpinned by excellent laboratories and science capabilities for the delivery of evidence-based science. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Briefing to FCDO on implications of World Water Day 2022 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/532312/ |
| Description | Citation in AMCOW White Paper on Groundwater in Africa |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | Citation in UN Water Report 2022 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The document has submited recommendation to the UN Water Congress on howe to implment strategies for using groundwater sustainable to help acheive the SDGs |
| URL | https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000380721 |
| Description | Construction Playbook sets out key policies and guidance for how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and delivered. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | From now on if a government department or agency commissions a contractor to carry out work it should add into the contract a clause that requires the provision of subsurface data to the BGS. This will mean the data collected will become part of the UK repository of subsurface data allowing for greater access and re-use. |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-construction-playbook |
| Description | Rapid Briefing to Chief Water Advisor FCDO on groundwater resources in Africa |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | A rapid review of recent research on groundwater resourcs and potential for further development for Food Security for FCDO Chief Water advisor and associated network. The advice was drawn on to help inform development of FCDO activities iN Africa including current and future programmes |
| Title | Catchment attributes and hydro-meteorological timeseries for 671 catchments across Great Britain (CAMELS-GB) |
| Description | This dataset provides hydro-meteorological timeseries and landscape attributes for 671 catchments across Great Britain. It collates river flows, catchment attributes and catchment boundaries from the UK National River Flow Archive together with a suite of new meteorological timeseries and catchment attributes. Daily timeseries for the time period 1st October 1970 to the 30th September 2015 are provided for a range of hydro-meteorological data (including rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, temperature, radiation, humidity and flow). A comprehensive set of catchment attributes are quantified describing a range of catchment characteristics including topography, climate, hydrology, land cover, soils, hydrogeology, human influences and discharge uncertainty. This dataset is intended for the community as a freely available, easily accessible dataset to use in a wide range of environmental data and modelling analyses. A research paper (Coxon et al, CAMELS-GB: Hydrometeorological time series and landscape attributes for 671 catchments in Great Britain) describing the dataset in detail will be made available in Earth System Science Data (https://www.earth-system-science-data.net/). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | None yet |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/8344e4f3-d2ea-44f5-8afa-86d2987543a9 |
| Title | Groundwater Monitoring Data, Virkisjokull Glacier Observatory, 2012-2018 |
| Description | abstract Groundwater level and groundwater temperature data measured in 9 boreholes between August 2012 and August 2018. Groundwater conductivity data measured in 1 of these boreholes from September 2012 to August 2014. Eight of the boreholes are drilled into a sandur (glacial outwash floodplain) aquifer in front of Virkisjokull glacier, SE Iceland, and are between 8.2 and 14.9 m deep. The remaining borehole is drilled into a volcanic rock aquifer between the sandur and glacier and is 5.1 m deep. Selected groundwater monitoring data are reported in Ó Dochartaigh, B. É., et al. 2019. Groundwater - glacier meltwater interaction in proglacial aquifers, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2019-120. Further information on borehole installations and geology can be found in Ó Dochartaigh et al. 2012. Groundwater investigations at Virkisjokull, Iceland: data report 2012. British Geological Survey Open Report OR/12/088, http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/500570/ |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data used by academics for further studes |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/citedData/catalogue/3c28c1e9-d19d-431c-8c30-e9a014447d7b.html |
| Title | Groundwater recharge in Africa from ground based measurements |
| Description | This dataset comprises a map of groundwater recharge for Africa and a database of the 134 observations used to generate the map. The map shows long term average annual groundwater recharge in mm per annum relevant to the period 1970 to 2020. It is in the form of a GIS shapefile and is available as a layer package for ESRI and also as a georeferenced TIFF and BIL file for easy exchange with other software. The database contains 134 sites for which ground based observations for groundwater recharge are available. These 134 sites are from previously published material and have gone through a QA procedure and been accurately geolocated to be included in the dataset. For each record there is a latitude, longitude, recharge estimate, recharge range, time period for the measurement; scale for which the estimate is made, methods used, a confidence rating and reason for this rating, and the reference from where the data originate. In addition, the database includes for each observation information from other continental datasets including: climate data, landcover, aquifer type, soil group and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The dataset has lead to a major publication and associated press coverage https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abd661. The dataset is also being used by UNESCO to help develop two new maps: a map of transboundary aqufiers in Africa, and a map of groundwater resources in West Africa |
| URL | https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/nationalgeosciencedatacentre/citedData/catalogue/45d2b71c-d413-44d4-8b4b-6190... |
| Title | UK Sustainable Development Goal 6.6.1: groundwater sub-indicator (1990-2019) |
| Description | The dataset consists of data for the UK for the Sustainable Development Goal 6.6.1: groundwater sub-indicator for the period 1990 to 2019. The dataset reports for the UK against Sub-Indicator 5 of Goal 6.6.1, following the recommended procedures in the UNEP report on monitoring methodologies for that sub-indicator. The sub-indicator is defined as the change in mean groundwater levels, averaged over a five-year period, from a mean in levels over a previous five-year reference period. Groundwater level data was obtained from BGS' WellMaster database. 192 groundwater level monitoring stations were processed and, following quality control, 154 were used to provide estimates of regional variation in groundwater levels for 19 of the 34 HydroBASINS at Level 6 in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As required by the guidance in the monitoring methodology, the sites chosen are representative of local and regional groundwater systems and are observation and monitoring boreholes where groundwater levels are not systematically affected by abstraction. All sites chosen have average monitoring frequencies of greater than one observation a month. The dataset is provided as a .csv file with the following headers: Column A: HYBAS_ID, HydroBASIN unique identification number. Column B: reference period (1990 to 1994). Columns C to AA: reporting periods (five-year periods starting in 1991) with data reported as percentage change (relative to reference period) in running mean five-year groundwater level by HydroBasin. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data used by the ONS to generate report on UK Government's SDG web site related to SDG Indicator 6.6.1 at https://sdgdata.gov.uk/6-6-1/ |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.5285/ff1a56d7-7b68-4006-a7f2-45cfe4fd66ae |
| Title | Urban Interactive Models |
| Description | A new urban interactive models tool, providing free user access to geological models for selected UK cities, has been added to BGS's GeoIndex service. BGS GeoIndex already provides access to a range of 2D information and data resources through an interactive map viewer, enabling users to navigate to their area of interest, view and query datasets, download reports and clip data, and make enquiries. The new tool allows users to capture synthetic boreholes, geological cross-sections and slices through 3D models developed by BGS for London, Glasgow and Cardiff, the largest cities in England, Scotland and Wales. A range of technical, professional and academic users, in particular consultancy for the geotechnical, construction and groundwater sectors, will benefit from the tool, which makes key urban models freely accessible for the first time. The models provide regional geological understanding (50 m resolution) designed to help users develop conceptual ground models and plan ground investigations. Users can query the geological model to obtain a range of visualisations of geological conditions beneath each of the cities. The views can also be downloaded as a standard format PDF. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Critical a wide range of urban stakeholers in the three cities for ground invesitgation, Sustainable urban drainage and other planning needs. These models are also being licenced by Arup for geothermal investigation. |
| URL | https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html?layer=InteractiveModels3D&_ga=2.161892348.1320685919.1... |
| Title | Water chemistry and stable isotope data, Virkisjokull Glacier Observatory, 2011-2018 |
| Description | Stable isotope and inorganic chemistry data for samples of groundwater from boreholes and springs in the sandur aquifer; glacial meltwater and river water; and glacier ice, from Virkisjokull glacier observatory. Selected water chemistry and stable isotope data are reported in Ó Dochartaigh, B. É, et al. 2019. Groundwater - glacier meltwater interaction in proglacial aquifers, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2019-120. See also MacDonald, A.M., Black, A.R., Dochartaigh, B.Ó., Everest, J., Darling, W.G., Flett, V. and Peach, D.W., 2016. Using stable isotopes and continuous meltwater river monitoring to investigate the hydrology of a rapidly retreating Icelandic outlet glacier. Annals of Glaciology, 57(72), pp.151-158. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2016.22 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data used by other academics |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/citedData/catalogue/14da9c02-c5ec-4019-8e5c-06c744d8be9d.html |
| Description | Briefing to FCDO staff on 5 important facts about hydrology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Briefing on 5 important facts about hydrology given to FCDO staff as part of a water learning journey arranged by the chief water advisor. Around 40 people attended the event live and the talk has since been put online. Much discussion afterwards with key FCDO staff on groundwater around the world |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NooXLRoU5Xo |
| Description | COP27: WaterAid, Bristol, BGS Press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release by WaterAid reporting research on drought frequency in Africa led by Bristol and Cardiff Universities, inlcuding research by BGS on groundwater availability. This coincided with COP27 and was picked up by several media outlets |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.wateraid.org/uk/media/africa-droughts-became-more-frequent-more-intense-and-widespread-o... |
| Description | Contrinution to news article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Contribute to a News article in "The Conversation" on drought in the Horn of Africa to help inform people about the role that groundwater has in adapting to drought. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Description and interpretation of Singapore's bedrock based on the new geological framework |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on behalf of the Singapore goverment discussing the new goelogcal framework for Singapore to the key stakeholder community |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | IAH India: Public lecture on Groundwater in the Indo-Gangetic Basin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An invited talk to the Indian Association of Hydrogeologists. THis was an online "popular talk" followed by 20 minutes of discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://inciah.org/ |
| Description | News article: Sustainable groundwater management underpins food security in South Asia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A BGS blog written on how groundwater has contributed to the green revolution in south Asia, drawong on different aspects of BGS work in India |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530457/ |
| Description | News-release: Groundwater : the world's neglected defence against climate change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A joint news release between BGS and WaterAid was developed based on BGS research on groundwater to show how groundwater development can be used to buffer water supplies during drought. This news release was picked up by more than 150 media outlets with a combined global reach of 500 million people and included stories in many of the UK newspapers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/532313/ |
| Description | Press release and news articles asscoated with release of new map of Groundwater recharge for Africa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release by BGS, ERL and Nottingham university associated with the releae of a paer mappign out long term groundwter recharge rates for Africa. The press release led to several interviews with media outlets in Africa and 10 online articles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/new-groundwater-maps-reveal-interesting-patterns-about-africas-water-secu... |
| Description | Running Side Event at UN groundwater Summit 2022 Groundwater: How groundwater changes lives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | approximately 100 people attended a side event showcasing stories of examples where groiundwater developmetn has changed peoples lives. The event was also streamed online, and ened with a symbolic mixing of groundwaters from around the world. There was much positive feedback with participants discussing the different people that groiundwater development impacts |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot8MTN3hGBo&t=26777s |
| Description | Singapore bedrock engineering geology: the implications of the new understanding and geological framework for urban development in Singapore |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop for the industry on the implications of the new understanding and geological framework for urban development in Singapore |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | UN Groundwater Summit 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A Debate on Innovation in groundwater to acieve the sustainable developmetn Goals at the first ever UN groundwater summit in the UNESCO headquarters. Paris. More than 500 preople attended live with 1000 online. The UN-Water Summit on Groundwater 2022 brought attention to groundwater at the highest international level to define actions towards more responsible and sustainable use and protection of this vital natural resource. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://groundwater-summit.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Groundwater-Innovation-Background-Overview... |
| Description | UPGRO Film |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We contributed to the development of a ten minute Film on Groundwater in sub-Saharan Africa This film explains groundwater and presents key research findings from the UPGro programme inclusing information from this grant.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLJxw6hkjYM&t=4s. The film explains many of the key research findings and has also been shon at several major international events, including the IWRA and Stolkhom Water Week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLJxw6hkjYM&t=4s |
| Description | World Bank flagship on Groundwater |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Formal working groiup to evaluate World Bank flagship document on groundwater to be published in 2023. As part of an expert panel of 12, we reviewed the document and took part in a series of workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | World Water Day 2022, Scottish Government |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A day of discussions and talks, hosted by the Scottish Government to Coincide with World Water day 2022. BGS made a series of 3 displays to showcase the theme for World Water Day - Groundwater. This was used to discuss with the 100 - 200 participants icluding the Scottish Minister for the Environment |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.hnic.scot/world-water-day/blog/groundwater-home-and-abroad-exhibition-british-geological... |