IGA Lecture: Dr. Patrick O’Connor – GEMAS: A new Geochemical Atlas of European Agricultural Soils

Dear Members,

Our next talk is by Dr. Patrick O’Connor, and it will be on the recently completed gargantuan European-wide project to representatively sample the composition all the key soils of Europe – including those of Ireland – and make a myriad of discoveries and inferences about current, or historical, social and industrial activities. Even such things as climate change. This huge survey was called GEMAS, and the results are what Pat, who was deeply involved in the project, is going to talk about. The maps that were produced, and which form the cornerstone of the GEMAS project, are themselves spectacular.

See you there!

Abstract: GEMAS stands for GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural Soils in Europe. This major European­wide project reveals the effects of anthropogenic soil pollution due to agricultural practices, mining activities, industrial activities and urbanisation. More broadly, some climatic effects are also evident. GEMAS clearly shows that the low density soil sampling methods used for continental­scale mapping of the geochemical environment is scientifically sound and transferable. And many of the geochemical maps themselves are works of art.

When and where: The lecture theatre in the Geological Survey of Ireland, Beggars Bush, Dublin 4 on Wednesday, October 28th, between 6:30 and 7:30 pm. Coffee and biscuits will available from 5:30 pm. All welcome.