UK offshore Quaternary geology brought together in new digital dataset
A newly digitized, national-scale offshore dataset from the British Geological Survey brings fresh clarity to the Quaternary geology of the UK continental shelf. By mapping the distribution of interpreted Quaternary layers at the seabed and in the shallow subsurface, the dataset provides a stronger geological foundation for offshore wind development across UK waters.
The BGS Offshore Quaternary 250K dataset comprises a compilation of legacy BGS 1:250 000 Quaternary geology map sheets, which were first published in the late 1980s to early 1990s. Large areas of the UK offshore are covered at a scale of 1:250,000, and this is the first time these map sheets have been digitized and merged together.
The dataset consists of vector polygons, each defining an area where a specific formation has been mapped. During digitization, the original map sheet interpretations were left unchanged and have been brought together, or 'mosaiced', into a single, coherent digital product.
Understanding the stratigraphy
The dataset will help users, particularly those in the offshore renewables sector, to understand the stratigraphy that was mapped historically in a particular area, and can be used for reference when completing site investigations.
Andrew Dyson, marine geoscientist at BGS, said: “The principal drive behind this release is to make original 1:250,000 map data available in a digital format. Although work to refine Quaternary stratigraphical frameworks is ongoing, the map compilation is not informed by new data or analysis. The Offshore Quaternary 250K dataset is the first time that these legacy offshore map sheets will be digitized, making it easier for users to access the data than ever before.”
