Seabed geology of the UK’s continental shelf, fine-scale maps providing detailed and accurate characterisation of the seabed geology, integrating substrate geology, structural geology and seabed geomorphology. Areas covered Anglesey, Bristol Channel, Dorset, East Anglia and Offshore Yorkshire. Mapping is based primarily on high-resolution bathymetry data produced by the UK Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP). Analysis and interpretation are further informed by secondary data and information resources, including; acoustic backscatter, physical samples (for example grabs, cores and boreholes), seismic data, academic and publicly accessible industry data and literature, and previous BGS mapping (onshore and offshore). The CHP is administered by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), with technical oversight, data validation and onward charting undertaken by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The new fine-scale BGS Seabed Geology mapping comprise three complimentary components (or layers); substrate geology: distribution of bedrock and superficial geological units interpreted to be dominant within the top 1 m below seabed, structural geology: principal structural features such as faults and folds observed at rockhead and seabed geomorphology: physical morphology and interpreted geomorphic character of the seabed. These detailed geological digital maps are intended as enabling resources to better inform multiple offshore activities, research, and management of the marine environment. However, the seabed is a dynamic environment, where sediments may be in constant motion and sediment waves may migrate across the seafloor, burying or exposing the underlying hard substrate. Therefore, this data should not be relied on for local or site-specific geology. The mapping presented has been developed at a scale of 1:10 000 and should not be used at finer scales. Further detail on the mapping process and dataset characteristics are described within individual dataset user guides.

The BGS Seabed Geology 10k: Offshore Yorkshire digital map provides detailed and accurate characterisation of the seabed geology, based on seabed and shallow-subsurface data. This dataset incorporates three complementary map components (Substrate Geology, Structural Geology, and Geomorphology) presented at 1:10 000 scale, provided as discrete layers for viewing within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The bedrock geology comprises Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, with bedrock commonly outcropping in the northern and central parts of the map area. Triassic rocks of the Bacton, Haisborough, and Lias Groups are dominant in the north, whereas Cretaceous Chalk is dominant in the central areas. Extensive folding, fracturing, and faulting are observed at rockhead, indicative of the complex structural evolution of the Southern North Sea Basin. Superficial deposits comprise several Quaternary deposits, in particular, Late Pleistocene subglacial till of the Bolders Bank Formation. Post-glacial channel-infill deposits are also common as well as Holocene through modern unconsolidated marine sediments. The seabed geomorphology records a range of relict and active processes, including bedrock ‘Bedding ridges’, Late Pleistocene ‘Ice-marginal moraines’, and active marine sedimentary current-induced bedforms (e.g. ‘Sediment Waves’). Each theme is provided as distinct layers for viewing within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The “Substrate Geology” layer shows the distribution of bedrock and unlithified superficial deposits present at the seabed (below a thin veneer of seabed sediments, ‘one-metre principle’ described below) as a series of polygons; The “Structural Geology” layer represents the structural features observed at rockhead as a polylines layer, and “Geomorphology” theme consists of points, polylines, and polygons layers to portray the main seabed morphological and geomorphological features.

The British Geological Survey hold a collection of data recorded during marine geophysical surveys which includes digital data and analogue records. These data result from approximately 350,000 line kilometres of multi-instrument geophysical survey lines. The dataset includes seismic, sonar, magnetic, gravity, echo sounder, multibeam bathymetry and navigation data. The seismic data are mainly airgun, sparker, boomer and pinger data. Most of the data were collected by BGS, but the collection also includes some third party data. The data are primarily from the UKCS (United Kingdom Continental Shelf). The data are stored within the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) as the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. The majority of legacy geophysical paper records are available as scanned images. Other records can be scanned on request. Older records are of variable quality. Data not yet available online, including digital SEG-Y data, are available on request from enquiries@bgs.ac.uk. The data are applicable to a wide range of uses including environmental, geotechnical, geophysical and geological studies. For more information, refer to Fannin, N. G. T. (1989) Offshore Investigations 1966-87. British Geological Survey Technical Report WB/89/2, British Geological Survey.

This service was created as part of the EU (FP7) funded EarthServer project. It provided the public facing WCS component of the Geology Data Service for this project. Other public facing components were available at: http://earthserver.bgs.ac.uk/. Services were discontinued in 2022.

The British Geological Survey has collected over 50,000 offshore samples using grabs, dredges and shallow coring devices (to a maximum depth of 6m below the sea bed). The collection also includes additional third party data and has assisted in the creation of BGS marine geology maps. The distribution is variable, but in general there are sample stations spaced approximately every 5 - 10 km across the entire UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), and in some localised areas the sampling density is much higher. The data held include digital data and analogue records (sample data sheets), plus associated physical sample material. Sample data sheets, which have been scanned, contain index information and geological descriptions. They become more detailed from 1983 onwards. Coded geological descriptions were entered on sheets which were subsequently digitized, and this information is available for about 10,000 samples. The data also includes results of analyses such as micropalaeontological examination or age dating. All sample material is managed as part of the BGS materials collection and are available for examination and subsampling. The data are stored within the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) and Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. These geological data are delivered via the BGS GeoIndex. Separate layers are provided for different types of sample: borehole-type samples, grab samples and other equipment types. These layers contain the geological data, and metadata about the samples themselves, as well as links to scanned datasheets and core logs, are provided in separate metadata layers. For some of these samples, particle size analysis (PSA), geochemical and geotechnical data are also available, and these data are provided in separate layers. The data are applicable to a wide range of uses including environmental, geotechnical and geological studies. Reference: Fannin, NGT. (1989) Offshore Investigations 1966-87. British Geological Survey Technical Report WB/89/2, British Geological Survey.

This dataset is the complete collection of the British Geological Survey (BGS) held Marine Survey data. The data held includes digital data and analogue records, plus associated physical sample material. Data are stored within the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) and the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. BGS have collected marine survey data since 1966, and have also been provided with a range of third-party data. The data includes geophysical data (seismic reflection, side-scan sonar, multibeam echosounder bathymetry and backscatter, gravity and magnetics) and sample data from boreholes, cores and seabed grabs (logs, geological description, geochemical, particle size analysis and geotechnical data). The majority of surveys are within the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) area. Individual survey data coverage varies, depending on survey type (sampling, geophysics, multibeam or multi-disciplinary) and objectives (regional or local, shallow or deep). These data are applicable to a wide range of uses including environmental, geotechnical, geophysical and geological studies. A summary layer of areas covered by individual marine surveys, including links to downloadable data where available, is available on the BGS GeoIndex. Additional data are available on request to enquiries@bgs.ac.uk.