Annual Report 1998–1999 ☛ Natural Environment Research Council begin tour Foreword As Chairman of its Board I am resulting from the refusal of planning permission for the proposed under- pleased to contribute this ground storage of radioactive waste and the consequent decision by UK Foreword to the British Nirex to suspend almost all research into underground disposal options. Geological Survey’s Annual Report. In these and other sustainable development issues the British Geological Survey has a vital public service duty to provide expert knowledge, data and This year has seen significant impartial advice to governments, academe, industry and the public. It must decisions taken on organisational also confront budgetary and organisational realities faced by public sector and programme restructuring bodies, research establishments and business. Against such a competitive and consolidation of manage- background it is in the national interest for the BGS to continue to receive ment policies designed to equip adequate funds through the NERC to maintain the highest levels of geo- the BGS to meet fully new and science capability of its staff and facilities. exciting challenges. This process is likely to continue into next I see a BGS continuing to support, in significant measure, the year. Government’s commitment to sustainable development through social progress, protection of the environment, prudent use of natural resources In managing these changes I and enhancement of the quality of life of the nation. express sincere gratitude to the Director, Dr Falvey, his executive This report sets out the progress the BGS has made during the past year team and the staff of the Survey and, in several areas, illustrates the contributions made to society in this who have contributed so much to the new strategic planning processes as country and overseas. well as the continuing operational programmes. I also appreciate the con- tinuing support of members of the Board and particularly their contribu- There is much to be done in the ensuing months to translate plans and tions to Programme Development Groups. good intentions into successful actions. I am confident that within the BGS, there is the necessary team spirit and high quality scientific expertise Of course, change can bring uncertainty, but I am satisfied that all reason- to ensure timely delivery of all programme objectives. able measures have been taken by the Director and his Executive to consult staff on the restructuring and the programme and management reorganisa- The Board and I look forward to continuing our work with the Director tion. Indeed the proposed new Strategy for BGS has its roots in the strate- and the BGS staff to the benefit of all. gic planning team drawn from the youth of the organisation, who conduct- ed wide ranging consultation within BGS and outside. All successful organ- isations have proper regard for their human resources and I congratulate the Survey on its renewal of its Investors in People status. This year, the BGS has continued to operate successfully against agreed Eric Hassall CBE, DSc, CEng, FIMinE, FRICS, FGS programme objectives and has done much to redress the income losses Chairman of the BGS Board. Main cover photograph Small cover photographs Beachy Head Lighthouse, East Sussex. The photograph shows the debris pile resulting Survey geologists J Horne, B N Peach and C T Clough at Tayvallich, Argyll. This picture, from a rock slide which took place on 10/11th January 1999, disrupting the electricity taken in the early 20th century, was used for publicising the BGS photographic exhibition supply to the lighthouse. Beachy Head and other chalk cliffs in the area are receding Hard Times, which was displayed at several locations during the year, including the Natural episodically due to marine erosion at a rate History Museum in London. (BGS photo: MNS557). estimated to be between 0.25 and 1.2 metres Cave in cliffs of Whitby Mudstone at Runswick Bay, near Whitby, North Yorkshire. per year. As a result of the slide, the BGS These 'hob-holes' show where the mineral jet was dug. This photograph is one of the were commissioned to advise The illustrations from the new BGS EarthwiseTM Publication Scarborough and Whitby- Corporation of Trinity House on the short- the Jurassic Coast. (BGS copyright NERC). and long-term stability of the cliff before making a decision about the best way to Apophyllite (Jalgaon, India, ca. 85mm long). Pure samples such as this are used to maintain electricity supply to the Beachy determine the rates of important mineralogical processes. The data are used in appli- Head Light. An engineering geological sur- cations such as the disposal of mine waste and other pollutants. This sample was vey of the cliff and a geophysical survey of analysed by a student from Nottingham University as part of an M.Sc. project carried the cliff top, using high-resolution resistivity out jointly with the BGS. (Photo by Paul Tod). imaging, were carried out, and samples of Rother Valley Country Park, Rotherham. Previously an open cast coal mine, chalk from the debris pile were tested in the now reclaimed as a nature reserve. (Photo by Paul Tod) (MN28125). BGS laboratories. Following the initial sur- vey a second, minor, fall took place on the Bibliographical reference 8th April, removing a portion of the cliff BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 1999. identified during the survey as unstable. Annual Report of the British Geological Survey 1998–1999. (Photo by Paul Tod). (Swindon, Wiltshire: Natural Environment Research Council). Editor: David Bailey Print Production: John Stevenson Design & Production: Adrian Minks The maps of Great Britain used in this report which are based on Ordnance Survey Mapping, are Reprography: James Rayner, Jayne Kmieciak, Stephen Wilkinson reproduced with permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Ordnance Survey licence number GD 272191/1999. © NERC 1999. All rights reserved. 12/99 C30 ISBN 0 85272 347 4 ☛ Report of the British Geological Survey 1998–99 The Mission of the British Geological Survey is to: Advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its adjacent continental shelf by means of systematic surveying and data collection, long-term monitor- ing and high-quality research. Provide comprehensive, objective, impartial and up-to-date geoscientific information, advice and services which meet the needs of customers in the industrial, engineering, governmental and scientific communities of the UK and overseas, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and quality of life. Enhance the UK science base by providing knowledge, information, education and training in the geo- sciences, and promote the public under- standing of the relevance of geoscience to resource and environment issues. Natural Environment Research Council ☛ Contents Director’s Introduction . .1 CORE AND PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMMES Geological Mapping of Britain . .2 Minerals and Geochemistry . .8 Geophysics . .12 Hydrogeology . .15 Marine and Coastal Geology . .18 Records and Databases . .20 Science for All . .22 Northern Ireland . .24 Isotope Geosciences . .25 COMMISSIONED PROGRAMME International Development and Assistance: — Mapping and Minerals . .26 — Groundwater and Pollution . .29 — Geohazards . .30 — Environmental Geoscience . .31 Resources: — Minerals . .32 — Oil and Gas . .34 Geology and Geohazards . .36 P A Tod, BGS © NERC Environmental Geoscience . .38 Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat MP for APPENDICES Ross, Skye and Inverness, examining the 1. Acronyms . .43 BGS core collections from the high racking fork lift truck. During his visit in May 2. Organisation . .44 1999, he joined BGS scientists to discuss the 3. Finance . .45 synergy between science and industry, with 4. Publishing . .46 special emphasis on European affairs. 5. Staff List . .56 6. Academic Collaboration . .62 7. Business Collaboration . .64 8. Committees . .66 9. Core Strategic Programme Achievements . .67 10.The BGS Board . .78 British Geological Survey Dr D A Falvey presents Professor S Sparks FRS with a print of 'View of Mount Etna, from Catania' (from Sir William Hamilton's Campi Phlegraei, published 1776) following his delivery of the 1998 Distinguished Lecture entitled 'The Eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat'. P A Tod, BGS © NERC Director’s Introduction the BGS has been subject to periodic survey, which, it is hoped, will eventually external reviews, which did much to create extend to national coverage. Phase 1, a structure that allows effective delivery of undertaken in collaboration with World national geoscience programmes. The BGS Geoscience Corporation Ltd, covered an Board agreed last year that further review area of 14 000 square kilometres, extending over the next few years was not the best from the Mersey and Dee estuaries in the way to improve the effectiveness of the north-west, south as far as Shrewsbury and BGS. Instead, they accepted that the BGS east to Lincoln. Although much work programmes should be subject to system- remains to be done, the project is already atic development by Programme Development Groups (PDG). The role of providing valuable data on diverse subjects each PDG would be to look at a BGS such as the environmental baseline distribu- programme area and consider how its tion of caesium-137 and deeply-buried geo- objectives, approach and delivery of logical structures in Charnwood Forest. products