OR/16/001 Foreword

Dove, D, Bradwell, T*, Carter, G, Cotterill, C, Gafeira, J, Green, S, Krabbendam, M, Mellet, C, Stevenson, A, Stewart, H, Westhead, K.; INFOMAR: Scott, G, Guinan, J, Judge, M, Monteys, X.; MAREANO: Elvenes, S, Baeten, N, Dolan, M, Thorsnes, T, Bjarnadóttir, L, and Ottesen, D . 2016. Seabed geomorphology: a two-part classification system. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/16/001. (* now at Stirling University)

This report is the result of an initiative led by the British Geological Survey (BGS) to establish a new classification system for Seabed Geomorphology. Geomorphological maps and spatial products that result from this initiative are intended to serve as enabling resources for research, educational, commercial, and marine spatial planning purposes, much like the existing BGS 1:250k map series (e.g. Seabed Sediment and Quaternary Mapping www.maremap.ac.uk/index.html).

Concurrent to the finalisation of the BGS classification system, collaboration with marine mapping partners in Europe has highlighted the wider interest and demand for characterising seabed geomorphology. This is the case at both the pan-European level with the members of EMODnet planning to address geomorphology in greater detail over the next few years, and more regionally along the NW European margin, where a partnership between national mapping programmes MAREANO-Norway, INFOMAR-Ireland, and MAREMAP-UK (MIM), has been established to consider best practice in geomorphological mapping. This includes the classification of features, but also identifying fit-for-purpose data preparation and automated detection/mapping protocols that will improve mapping accuracy and reduce user bias. As a first step, the MIM group have adopted and are testing the BGS two-part classification. Feedback from the group has improved the classification system and ensured that it is applicable across the diverse environments of the NW European margin, and applicable at multiple scales. In this report we present Version 1 of the classification system. It is likely that future versions will be released via the broader MIM partnership.