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Clyde Basin geochemical survey

51 Research — Applied Geochemistry

Between 2001 and 2011, BGS carried out a series of geochemical surveys in the Clyde Basin forming an integral part of the BGS G-BASE project and the Glasgow and Clyde Basin Urban Super Project (CUSP).

CUSP was a multi-disciplinary catchment-based project to characterise the geoenvironment of the Clyde Basin to aid sustainable planning and development in and around Scotland’s major conurbation.

The geochemical surveys were based on the collection of 2000 stream and river sediment/water and 3943 soil samples that were analysed to determine the distribution of c. 50 inorganic chemical parameters that are important for agriculture and/or land and water/sediment quality assessment. Additional studies determined the concentration of c. 50 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in selected soil and river sediment samples. Results reveal the natural and geological influences on; and the impacts of urbanisation/industrialisation, former mining and atmospheric deposition on soil and drainage system resources. Understanding the controls on soil and surface water/sediment chemical quality provides an invaluable basis to aid catchment management and urban regeneration for the future.

The data shows the chemical state of the surface environment across Scotland largest urban area and a key river catchment, against which to assess future change. As demonstrated by the list of publications below, they have application to understanding a variety of environmental issues including:

  • land and water chemical quality assessment and regulation
  • distribution of potentially harmful substances and diffuse pollution for environmental protection
  • distribution of essential trace elements for agriculture and ecosystem health
  • soil–surface water–groundwater interactions
  • contaminant migration in the River Clyde catchment
  • sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
  • catchment management studies
  • land use planning and development
  • soil carbon stocks
  • the data were the first to show a link between soil metal chemistry and deprivation indicators in the UK (See Morrison et al., 2013 in Publication list)

Main outputs

The geochemical surveys were carried out in various phases, with the following main outputs:

Top (5 – 20 cm) and deeper (35 – 50 cm) soil samples collected across the Clyde Basin at a sample density of 1 per 2 km2 in rural and 4 per 1 km2 in urban areas. Analysed for c. 50 inorganic chemical parameters.

  • . 2017. 51 Open Report, OR/14/032. ISBN 978-0-85272-881-9.

80 urban topsoil (5 – 20 cm) samples from 10 different land use types in Glasgow City. Analysed for c. 100 inorganic and organic chemical substances.

  • .2019. Vol.108(2-3).

Water samples from small (1st and 2nd order) rural streams, collected at a sample density of 1 per 1.5 km2 from the same sites as the existing 1980s G-BASE stream sediment survey (). Analysed for c. 50 inorganic chemical parameters.

  • 2017. 51 Open Report OR/16/015. ISBN 978-0-85272-876-5.

40 river sediment and water samples collected from all junctions with major tributaries on the River Clyde upstream of Glasgow. Sediment analysed for c. 100 inorganic and organic substances. Water analysed for c. 50 inorganic parameters.

  • .2019. Vol.108(2-3).
  • See also:

Sediment and water samples collected from the inner and outer estuary of the River Clyde. Analysed for c. 100 inorganic and organic chemical substances.

Carried out in collaboration with Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Glasgow Humane Society.

  • Estuarine Geochemistry: Report for Glasgow City Council. 2004. 51 Commissioned Report, CR/04/057. Contact BGS Enquiries.

Fine (< 150 µm) fraction urban stream sediment; and stream water collected from every km of length of all tributaries draining into the River Clyde within the Glasgow City area. Analysed for c. 60 inorganic and organic chemical substances.

Carried out in collaboration with Glasgow City Council.

  • 2004. 51 Commissioned Report CR/04/037.
  • See also:

Top (5 – 20 cm) and deeper (35 – 50 cm) soil samples collected across the Glasgow conurbation at a sample density of 1 per 2 km2 in rural and 4 per 1 km in urban areas. Analysed for c. 50 inorganic chemical parameters.

  • 2012. 51 Open Report, OR/08/002.
  • See also:

For all the surveys above, see also the CUSP Special Issue of the Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Links to individual papers in this volume are given in the Publications list below.

  • .2019. Vol.108(2-3).

Lead concentrations in Clyde Basin topsoil
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Lead concentrations in Clyde Basin topsoil

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Lead concentrations in Clyde Basin surface water
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Lead concentrations in Clyde Basin surface water

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Data

Data Search the  for the availability of G-BASE soil, stream water and stream sediment data. G-BASE data are available under license from BGS. Contact the 51 enquiry service.

Publications

  • Bearcock J M, Smedley P L, Fordyce F M, Everett P A and Ander E L. 2019. . Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 249–267.
  • 51. 1993. Keyworth: 51.
  • Fordyce, F M, Dochartaigh, B É, Lister, T R, Cooper, R, Kim, A, Harrison, I, Vane C and Brown, S E. 2004. 51 Commissioned Report CR/04/037.
  • Jones, D G, Lister, T R, Strutt, M H, Entwistle, D C, Harrison, I, Kim, A W, Ridgway, J and Vane, C H. 2004. Estuarine Geochemistry: Report for Glasgow City Council. 51 Commissioned Report, CR/04/057. Available from the 51 enquiry service.
  • Jones D G, Vane C H, Lass-Evans S, Chenery S, Lister T R, Cave M R, Gafeira J, Jenkins G, Leslie A, Breward N, Freeborough K, Harrison I, Kim A W, Lacinska A, Milodowski A, Ridgway J, Riding J, Strutt M, Wagner D and Wilkinson I. 2019. Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 269–288.
  • Lass-Evans S. 2012. . In: Research Conference 2012 – Daphne Jackson Trust Case Studies. Bath, 24 October 2012, 24.
  • Lass-Evans, S and Fordyce F M. 2012. . Scottish Consortium for Rural Research Newsletter 75. 3.
  • Lopes dos Santos R A and Vane C H. 2019. Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 289–298.
  • Palumbo-Roe, Barbara;Banks, Vanessa J.;Bonsor, Helen C.;Hamilton, Elliott M.;Watts, Michael J.. 2017.Applied Geochemistry, 83. 108-120.
  • Sim G. 2019. PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh.
  • Smedley P L, Bearcock J M, Fordyce F M, Everett P A, Chenery S and Ellen R. 2017. 51 Open Report OR/16/015. ISBN 978-0-85272-876-5.
  • Vane, C.H., Chenery, S.R., Harrison, I., Kim, A.W., Moss-Hayes, V., Jones, D.G. 2011. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (A) 369, 1085-1111.
  • Vane, C.H., Harrison, I., Kim, A.W. 2007. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54, 8, 1301-1306.
  • Vane C H, Lopes dos Santos R A, Kim A W, Moss-Hayes V, Fordyce F M and Bearcock J M. 2019. Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 299–313.
  • Vane C H, Moss-Hayes V, Kim A W, Edgley E, Cave M R and Bearcock J M. 2019. Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 315–326.
  • Vane, C.H. Yun-Juan Ma, She-Jun Chen and Bi-Xian Mai. 2010. . Environmental Geochemistry & Health, 32(1), 13-21.

Fordyce F M, Lass-Evans S and Dochartaigh, B É.. Stage 3 contribution to: Wade, R et al. 2013.A Critical Review of Urban Diffuse Pollution Control: Methodologies to Identify Sources, Pathways and Mitigation Measures with Multiple Benefits. CRW2012/1.Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen.

Wade R, Lundy L, Fordyce F M, Berwick N, Jefferies C, McLean N, Lass-Evans S, Dochartaigh B É, Garcia-Haba E, Jose R and Spray C. 2013.. CRW2012/1.Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen.

  • Appleton J.D., Cave, M.R., Palumbo-Roe, B. and Wragg J. 2013.. Environmental Pollution 178, 278-287.
  • Appleton, J.D., Cave, M.R.and Wragg, J.2012. Science of the Total Environment, 435. 21–29. 
  • Appleton, J.D.,Cave, M.R.andWragg, J. 2012.. Environmental Pollution, 171. 265-272.
  • Broadway, A. 2008.. PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh.
  • Broadway A, Cave, M R, Wragg J, Fordyce F M, Bewley R J F, Graham M C, Ngwenya B T and Farmer J G.2010.. Science of the Total Environment, 409 (2), 267-277.
  • Campbell, S.D.G., Merritt, J.E., Monaghan, A.A., Mansour, M., Loughlin, S., Hughes, A. G.,Dochartaigh, B. E., Fordyce, F. M. and Entwisle, D.2009.. Proceedings from EUREGEO 2009: European Congress on Regional Geoscientific Cartography and Information Systems, Munich, Germany, 9-12 June 2009. Bayerisches Landesamt fur Umwelt, 41-46.
  • Campbell, S.D.G., Merritt, J.E.,Dochartaigh, B.E., Mansour, M., Hughes, A.G., Fordyce, F.M., Entwisle, D.C., Monaghan, A.A.andLoughlin, S.2010.. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Geowissenschaften, 161 (2), 251-262.
  • Cundill A, Bacon J, Dale P, Fordyce F M, Fowler D, Hedmark A, Hern A and Skiba U.2011. In: Dobbie, K.E., Bruneau, P.M.C., Towers, W.(eds).The State of Scotland Soil.Natural Scotland. Scottish Environment Protection Agency: Stirling. pp 45-71.
  • Farmer J G, Broadway A, Cave, M R, Wragg J, Fordyce F M, Graham M C, Ngwenya B T and Bewley R J F. 2011.. Science of the Total Environment 409 (23) 4958–4965.
  • Flight, D.M.A.andScheib, A.J. 2011.In: Johnson, C., Demetriades, A., Locutura, J., Ottesen, R.T. (Eds.), Mapping the Chemical Environment of Urban Areas. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 186-206.
  • Fordyce F M, Brown S E, Ander E L, Rawlins B G, O’Donnell K E, Lister T R, Breward N and Johnson C C. 2005.. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. Vol. 5(4), 325-336 (12).
  • Fordyce F M, Everett P A, Bearcock J M and Lister T R.2019.. The Geosciences in Europe Urban Sustainability: Lessons from Glasgow and Beyond (CUSP). Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society ofEdinburgh, 108 (2-3), 191–216.
  • Fordyce F M, Everett P A, Bearcock J M, Lister T R, Gowing C, Watts M and Ellen R. 2017.. 51 Open Report, OR/14/032. ISBN 978-0-85272-881-9.
  • Fordyce F M, Nice S E, Lister T R and Dochartaigh, B É.2013.Extended abstracts of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry(SETAC) European Conference. 12-16 May 2013, Glasgow. Soil Ecotoxicology III Session Abstract 14129.
  • FordyceF M, Nice S E, Lister T R, Dochartaigh B É, Cooper R, Allen M, Ingham M, Gowing C, Vickers B P and Scheib A. 2012.. 51 Open Report, OR/08/002.
  • Hogg., M.2010.Relationships between Soil Metal Land Quality and Land Use – a Case Study from Glasgow, UK. MSc Thesis. Cardiff University.
  • Kim A W, Vane C H, Moss-Hayes V L, Beriro D J, Nathanail C P, Fordyce F M and Everett P A.2019.The Geosciences in Europe Urban Sustainability: Lessons from Glasgow and Beyond (CUSP). Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society ofEdinburgh, 108 (2-3), 231–247.
  • Morrison, S.2011.. MSc By Research Thesis. University of Glasgow.
  • Morrison S, Fordyce F M and Scott E M.2013.. Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
  • Rawlins, BG,Vane,C H,Kim, A,Tye,A,Kemp, SandBellamy, P. 2008.. Soil Use and Management,24 (1). 47-59.
  • Wragg J, Broadway A, Cave M R, Fordyce F M, Palumbo-Roe B, Beriro D, Farmer J G, Graham M C, Ngwenya B T and Bewley J F R. 2019.The Geosciences in Europe Urban Sustainability: Lessons from Glasgow and Beyond (CUSP). Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 108 (2-3), 217–230.
  • Fordyce F M, Dochartaigh B É, Bonsor H C, Ander E L, Graham M T, McCuaig R and Lovatt M J.2019.. The Geosciences in Europe Urban Sustainability: Lessons from Glasgow and Beyond (CUSP). Earth and Environmental Science: Transactions of the Royal Society ofEdinburgh, 108 (2-3), 173–190.
  • Lovatt M J.2008.Assessing the Importance of Depth to Groundwater in a Methodology for Prioritising Threats to Groundwater Quality from Surface Contaminants in the Clyde Gateway, Glasgow. MSc Thesis, University of Strathclyde.
  • McCuaig, R.2011.Validation of a GIS-based Tool for Prioritising Threats to Shallow Groundwater Quality from Soil Pollutants in Glasgow. MSc Thesis. Birmingham University.

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