dataset · United Kingdom
UK Compiled Topsoil (UKTS) raster dataset
The UK Compiled Topsoil Dataset (UKTS) is the most extensive topsoil geochemistry dataset for the UK available at the time of release (August 2024). The dataset consists of 82 georeferenced TIFF raster images (GeoTIFF format) with a cell size of 500 x 500 m, displaying the predicted concentrations for 41 chemical elements in UK topsoil and their respective standard error. The dataset is based on the geochemical analyses of 57,966 topsoil samples collected between 1978 and 2014 and analysed by X-
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Licence: ["The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in an
Evidence quality: 49.1
Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- topsoil geochemistry: predicted concentrations for 41 chemical elements · predicted standard error per element
- Coverage docs-verified
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Clyde Basin in Scotland · source topsoil samples collected 1978 to 2014
- Resolution docs-verified
- 500 x 500 m cell size (spatial)
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Not planned (no scheduled updates)
- Formats docs-verified
- GeoTIFF
- Access docs-verified
- Free download from data.gov.uk; no API or auth listed. Copyright is vested in NERC: reproduction or transmission requires prior permission of the copyright holder via the BGS IPR Manager. Licence field not set on the portal.
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Baseline soil geochemistry (e.g. background metals) for contaminated land desk studies · Screening of topsoil element concentrations across a site or catchment in GIS · Background concentration context for ground investigation and waste classification reports · Mapping regional geochemical variation for environmental baseline assessments
- Audience llm-inferred
- geotechnical engineers · environmental consultants · contaminated land specialists · GIS analysts · ecologists · planners
Limitations
- Constraints docs-verified
- Predicted (kriged) surface, not site-specific measurements; use the standard error layers to judge uncertainty · Covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland and only the Clyde Basin in Scotland, not the rest of Scotland · Based on samples from 1978 to 2014; no updates planned · Copyright restrictions on reproduction and transmission apply · Provided with no warranty on accuracy or suitability for any use
Evidence
- https://www.ukso.org/
- https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/4147e16c-b6ba-48b1-834a-0cedd7c7ca0e/uk-compiled-topsoil-ukts-raster-dataset
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.