UK Soil observatory
The UK Soil Observatory is an online archive of UK soils data from nine research bodies. It provides easy access to fully described datasets allowing everyone to work with the latest UK soil research outputs.
Knowledge of soil types and properties underpins good soil-management practices allowing us to develop vital strategies for sustainable agricultural production, UK’s carbon balance and a wide range of other services e.g. flood prevention.
The UKSO map viewer can be used by anyone to explore what we already know about UK soils. A large quantity of soil datasets (mostly as maps) are available, including soil type and a wide range of physical, chemical and biological properties.
The map below is a screenshot from the UKSO showing soil types across Anglesey, but there are all sorts of data that can be veiwed. Soil classification across Anglesey is explained here
The UK Soil observatory also maps topsoil concentrations of a wide range of elements, including potentially toxic ones, such as copper. Green on the map shows tpyical levels of copper which is an essential plant nutrient, blue and purple shades indicate extremely low levels but on Anglesey these areas are the wind blown sands of the west coast. The buff colur across NW Angelsey and much of Eryri (Snowdonia) reflect the mineralisation which has been mined in so many places, especially Parys Mountain
