This is a digital version of the paper based 1:1M scale Offshore Quaternary map, North and South sheets. Customers should be aware that, given the age of the paper based maps, the digital version is not quality assured and BGS can accept no liability for the information held on the digital map. In addition, published 1:250,000 Quaternary maps are available. These contain more detailed subdivision of the Quaternary succession. The original paper based map covers the UK Continental shelf. The paper map is symbolised using lithology and chronology. The lithological boundaries were compiled from the data published in the BGS 1:250,000 Quaternary Geology map series and from revised interpretation of core and borehole data. Core and borehole sites are commonly 5 to 20 km apart, thus the lithological divisions are generalised. The formations and sequences identified by BGS have been grouped into Quaternary age ranges. The geological codes assigned to the digital version of the map have been compiled using the key information held on the paper map. The LEX-ROCK style codes combine the lithology and chronology and have been subject to the standard BGS approval process.

This data set contains the following original data for the deep seismic reflection surveys conducted by the BGS in various parts of the UK. The data consists of observers' logs, surveyors' reports, location data tapes, field data recording tapes and processed data tapes. The processed tapes are at various stages of processing from demultiplexed field data to migrated stack (not all available for all profiles) These data are kept as archive copies. They are generally available for academic and commercial use, subject to payment of fees (and, in a few cases, the agreement of co-owners of the data rights). There are Approximately 20 files of written records and 200 tapes.

This is the collection of cores and samples held by BGS for the sea areas around the UK. It includes material collected by BGS during its mapping projects and material donated to BGS by other organisations. The main core and sample types are grab samples (sea-bed), gravity cores, vibrocores and rock-drill cores (up to 6m in length), and borehole cores (up to 274m in length). The sea-bed grab samples are Holocene sediments present at the sea-bed and are stored in plastic jars. Where possible, sub-sample material has been retained after analysis. The bulk of the cores consist of Holocene and Pleistocene material. The rest are of bedrock ranging in age from Neogene to Pre-Cambrian. A lot of the core was collected in plastic liner tubing and the unlithified cores have been split vertically. The bulk of the material was collected in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and early 1990's with ongoing additions of new sample and cores each year. The distribution is very variable, but, in general, there are grab samples and/or shallow cores spaced about every 5 - 10km across the entire UK Continental Shelf. In some localised areas the sampling density is much higher. The samples and cores are applicable to a wide range of uses including environmental, geotechnical and geological studies.

The SEA portal is managed by the BGS on behalf of DECC and provides free access to downloadable data, information and reports which have been produced through the SEA process. The Department of Trade and Industry (now DECC) began a sequence of sectoral SEAs of the implications of further licensing of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) for oil and gas exploration and production in 1999. The SEA Process subdivided the UKCS into eight areas shown; beginning in 2008, integrated Offshore Energy SEAs have been undertaken that cover the whole UKCS. An integral part of the SEA programme has been a series of research and monitoring surveys commissioned to acquire new data about the offshore environment and used to help inform the relevant SEAs. Many files can be downloaded directly from portal. Those that are too large to download can be ordered via the website for postal delivery from BGS.

These data comprise four phases of geophysical survey carried out in 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2011, covering various areas within the Thames Estuary as part of an overarching archaeological investigation called the London Gateway project (2001-2020) ahead of planned dredging works. 88635_49575_2002 - Area of sidescan sonar data within the Thames Estuary (shell haven) area. The data were acquired in OSGB36 British National Grid coordinates and covers the area: Top Left - 570395.312500 E, 183444.953125 N, Top Right - 604097.250000 E, 183444.953125 N, Bottom Right - 604097.250000 E, 177590.140625 N, Bottom Left - 570395.312500 E, 177590.140625 N. 88635_61207_2007 - Geophysical survey comprising sidescan sonar data acquired over 13 separate wreck sites. Corresponding MBES data were acquired previously in 2005 and are deposited with the UKHO. SSS data comprise a total of 83 .xtf files with 2 channels. Acquired in WGS84 UTMz31N coordinates. 400 KhZ frequency. Range 50 m. Sensor positions rather than ship positions for each line in metadata. Each wreck location is centred on (UTMz31N): Amethyst - 364468 E, 5708659 N; Ancient - 325490 E, 5708230 N; Argus - 359499 E, 5706071 N; Ash - 360905 E, 5706497 N; Atherton - 359708 E, 5706186 N; Dynamo - 401449 E, 5743755 N; EastOaze - 362786 E, 5707385 N; ErnaBoldt - 403551 E, 5746997 N; Letchworth - 357544 E, 5705592 N; London - 343115 E, 5707365 N; Pottery - 346619 E, 5706276 N; SS Storm - 406001 E, 5747115 N; Unknown wreck - 375530 E, 5714052 N. 88635_61208_2008 - Geophysical survey comprising sidescan sonar and multibeam echosounder data over a single wreck site. SSS data comprise a total of 7 .xtf files with 2 channels. 400 KhZ frequency. Range 50 m. Acquired in WGS84 Geographic coordinates. Sensor positions rather than ship positions for each line in metadata. Wreck location in WGS84 UTMz31N: Aisha - 363982 E, 5707656 N. 88635_79800_2011 - Geophysical survey comprising magnetometer, sidescan sonar and multibeam echosounder data undertaken over three separate blocks; Area 9to11, Area 26to36 and Area 105. Area9to11:332980 E, 5708675 N; 332980 E, 5708226 N; 338586 E, 5707813 N; 338681 E, 5708242 N. Area26to36:339693 E, 5708096 N; 339571 E, 5707680 N; 345670 E, 5706229 N; 350490 E, 5706371 N; 350338 E, 5706838 N; 345680 E, 5706685 N. Area105:383734 E, 5719704 N; 384035 E, 5719369 N; 385920 E, 5720804 N; 385619 E, 5721134 N. Where corresponding multibeam echosounder data were acquired, these data have been archived with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). Overarching full archaeological investigation, including results of the assessment of these data, and technical reports are archived with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) (https://doi.org/10.5284/1083494).

The Marine Reports Archive held by BGS includes published and unpublished reports created by BGS and acquired from various sources. The reports which date from the 1960s onwards include the BGS Marine Reports Series, Marine Commercial reports and associated records, Palaeontology reports and other specialist reports. Examples of report types are data acquisition and processing reports, site investigation reports and interpretation reports. The reports are primarily for the UKCS (United Kingdom Continental Shelf). The coverage of some reports is the entire UKCS whilst other have only regional or very localised extent. The reports are applicable to a wide range of uses including environmental, geotechnical, geophysical and geological studies.

MEDIN Data. Within the project (WFA-CPC EMFF Protecting Our Seas), benthic and geophysical surveys were undertaken in the Severn Esturary/Môr Hafren SAC to explore the location of Sabellaria alveolata reefs, and collected bathymetry, sidescan sonar, AGDS and acoustic imagery data (ARIS) to identify areas of variable ground or potential features. A ten-day survey was undertaken in July 2020 to collect broad-scale acoustic data using an interferometric swath bathymetric system (GeoSwath Plus) and Acoustic Ground Discrimination System (RoxAnn™ AGDS). Twelve secondary survey areas were selected to be investigated in greater detail using high frequency sidescan sonar and an Acoustic Resonance Inspection System (ARIS Explorer 3000) camera in a second ten-day survey conducted in August 2020 (https://www.envision.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2018-1008-NRW-WFA-Protecting_Our_Seas_Final_Report_20210201.pdf) The data sets include: SSS (.tif) collected using Trident SeaStar MBES (.xyz) collected using GeoSwath Plus, AGDS (.csv and .asc) collected using RoxAnn™ AGDS ARIS imagery (.png and .mp4) collected using ARIS Explorer 3000 camera Shapefiles (.shp etc)

The concentrations of up to 30 trace elements in approximately 9,000 sea-bed samples from the UK Continental Shelf were determined by BGS using a variety of analytical techniques. In some cases samples were tested using more than one method. The analyses were carried out on freeze-dried samples of the sand and mud fractions of the samples. The data are stored as part of the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC) and the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Data are delivered via the BGS Offshore GeoIndex www.bgs.ac.uk/GeoIndex/offshore.htm geochemical layers. References: Stevenson, A G (2001) Metal concentrations in marine sediments around Scotland: a baseline for environmental studies, Elsevier Science; Stevenson, A G et al (1995) The geochemistry of sea-bed sediments of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf : the North Sea, Hebrides and West Shetland shelves, and the Malin-Hebrides sea area (http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/507899/).

BGS Data Catalogue discovery service API. Provides human and computer accessible interface to BGS metadata records

Data from the British Geological Survey's GeoIndex Offshore (cultural data) theme are made available for viewing here. GeoIndex is a website that allows users to search for information about BGS data collections covering the UK and other areas world wide. Access is free, the interface is easy to use, and it has been developed to enable users to check coverage of different types of data and find out some background information about the data. More detailed information can be obtained by further enquiry via the web site: www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex.