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EnergyGeothermal Vertical Closed Loop suitability map. Ground source heat energy, sometimes called shallow geothermal energy, can be collected from the ground and boosted with heat pumps. This can yield up to four times as much energy as is used to collect it, giving ‘four for the...
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EnergyGeothermal Open Loop Commercial suitability map. Ground source heat energy, sometimes called shallow geothermal energy, can be collected from the ground and boosted with heat pumps. This can yield up to four times as much energy as is used to collect it, giving ‘four for the...
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This map shows the areas where sub-bottom profile data is available in Irish waters. Sub-bottom profile data shows the rock features and the sediment layers that are below the seabed. A sub-bottom profile is created by sending sound waves from the vessel to the seabed. The...
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Sub-bottom profile data shows the rock features and the sediment layers that are below the seabed. A sub-bottom profile is created by sending sound waves from the vessel to the seabed. The length of time it takes for these sound wave to return from the seabed to the vessel is...
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The INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland's MArine Resource (INFOMAR) programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI). The programme is the successor to the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS)...
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Groundwater is the water that soaks into the ground from rain and is stored beneath the ground. An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater. The process of rain filling up an aquifer is called ‘recharge’. The Groundwater Recharge map shows the amount of...
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Geochemistry of streams sediments can be used to screen for rare minerals and thus help developing local resources. Knowing composition of stream sediments helps to understand what rocks were eroded by the water, where they came from and what resources they might contain....
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Bedrock is the solid rock at or below the land surface. Over much of Ireland, the bedrock is covered by materials such as soil and gravel. The Bedrock map shows what the land surface of Ireland would be made up of if these materials were removed. As the bedrock is commonly...
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This data shows the depth of the seabed around Ireland. The data was collected in 1996 and between 2000 and 2022. Bathymetry is the measurement of how deep is the sea. Bathymetry is the study of the shape and features of the seabed. The name comes from Greek words meaning...
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LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology, i.e. the technology is not in direct contact with what is being measured. From satellite, aeroplane or helicopter, a LiDAR system sends a light pulse to the ground. This pulse hits the ground and returns back...
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Research ships working at sea map the seafloor. The ships collect bathymetry data. Bathymetry is the measurement of how deep the sea is. Bathymetry is the study of the shape and features of the seabed. The name comes from Greek words meaning "deep" and “measure". Backscatter...
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Research ships working at sea map the seafloor. The ships collect bathymetry data. Bathymetry is the measurement of how deep the sea is. Bathymetry is the study of the shape and features of the seabed. The name comes from Greek words meaning "deep" and “measure". Backscatter...
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Streams are important parts of our ecosystem and crucial water sources. Knowing composition of stream waters helps to understand where it came from and how it can be used. Geochemists test stream water samples using different methods to see the spread of elements and ions...
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Bedrock is the solid rock at or below the land surface. Over much of Ireland, the bedrock is covered by materials such as soil and gravel. Geologists map and record information on the composition and structure of rock outcrops (rock which can be seen on the land surface). It...
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EnvironmentSoil is the outside layer of Earth. It is a made up of living organisms, gases, minerals, and organic matter. Knowing what elements are in the soil helps to work out where it came from and how it was made. Deeper soil samples for the northern half of Ireland were collected by...
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The Scheme Reports Groundwater Protection map provides links to county based reports. A groundwater protection scheme has land surface zone map(s) and groundwater protection responses for potentially polluting activities e.g., landfill, land spreading and septic tanks. The...
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This Backscatter map shows how hard or soft the seabed is in Irish waters. The seabed in Ireland’s inshore area is between 0 and 200 metres deep. The data was collected from 2001 to 2022. The seabed in Ireland’s offshore area is between 200 and 5000 metres deep. The data was...
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Soil is the outside layer of Earth. It is a made up of living organisms, gases, minerals, and organic matter. Knowing what elements are in the soil helps to work out where it came from and how it was made. The GEMAS (geochemical mapping of agricultural soils and grazing land...
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Geological heritage or ‘geoheritage’is the term used to describe sites or places with features of geology that have important scientific, educational, cultural, or visual value. There are many types of sites. They are made from past and present geological processes (wearing...