Organiser: EGS Geochemistry Expert Group
Supported:Eurometaux, FAO, GSP

Worshop aim

The workshop will show selected case studies demonstrating possible uses of the GEMAS data set. In addition, a twin-like project carried out by the USGS and covering the Conterminous United States will be presented, as well as preliminary results from a European Commission soil survey. Examples for the importance of scale and of the selection of the optimal sample density for a given purpose will also be highlighted.

Background

Clean, productive agricultural soil is a vital European resource.

• Is European agricultural soil of good quality?
• Is there evidence for large-scale industrial contamination of European agricultural soil (diffuse pollution)?
• Is there evidence of other anthropogenic impacts on European agricultural soil?
• What are the levels of toxic or potentially harmful elements in European agricultural soil?
• Are there element deficiencies in European soil?
• How large is the natural variation of chemical elements in European soil?
• Are there differences between European countries and, if so, what is the explanation?
• Are geology and climate reflected in the spatial distribution of chemical elements in European soil?

These and similar questions will be answered using the results of the GEMAS project.