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<p>Created page with &quot;{{Underconstruction}} ==Scope of monitoring== In collaboration with the University of Birmingham, BGS investigated the chemistry of groundwater and surface water by sampling: * existing boreholes and wells (private and public supplies) * streams * purpose-drilled boreholes, some equipped with downhole chemical probes Information icon Environmental baseline monitoring: groundwater. BGS © UKRI. ==Seismicity== Seismologists from BGS and the universities of Liverpool and...&quot;</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Underconstruction}}<br /> ==Scope of monitoring==<br /> In collaboration with the University of Birmingham, BGS investigated the chemistry of groundwater and surface water by sampling:<br /> <br /> * existing boreholes and wells (private and public supplies)<br /> * streams<br /> * purpose-drilled boreholes, some equipped with downhole chemical probes<br /> <br /> Information icon<br /> Environmental baseline monitoring: groundwater. BGS © UKRI.<br /> <br /> ==Seismicity==<br /> Seismologists from BGS and the universities of Liverpool and Bristol investigated seismicity.<br /> <br /> Urban centres such as Blackpool and Preston make seismic responses ‘noisy’. In both study areas, obtaining meaningful, low-magnitude signals required a high-density array and experimentation with new sensors below the surface in boreholes.<br /> <br /> Surface seismometers were deployed at monitoring sites in both Lancashire and Yorkshire for monitoring background seismicity, to improve detection of natural earthquakes and any events induced by human activity. Novel instruments were also tested in newly-drilled boreholes.<br /> <br /> <br /> Information icon<br /> Environmental baseline monitoring: seismology. BGS © UKRI.<br /> <br /> ==Air quality and greenhouse gas assessment==<br /> Atmospheric scientists from the University of Manchester and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of York conducted investigations into baseline occurrence and variability in atmospheric composition and monitored for evidence of change.<br /> <br /> In Lancashire, background methane (CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) and carbon dioxide (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) concentrations were measured continuously from late 2014 to 2020 at a fixed location close to one of the proposed shale gas well sites. Together with meteorological information (for example, wind direction) these measurements characterised variations in both natural and existing artificial inputs to the near-surface atmosphere before the start of any shale gas activity.<br /> <br /> Site investigations in the Vale of Pickering, Yorkshire also took place between 2016 and 2020. A suite of air-quality parameters (particulate matter, PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, from, for example, generators, traffic, plant, flares, dust and materials handling), volatile organic compounds and non-methane hydrocarbons were also monitored.<br /> <br /> <br /> Information icon<br /> Environmental baseline monitoring: air quality. BGS © UKRI.<br /> <br /> ==Ground motion==<br /> In the areas of investigation, BGS carried out an analysis of how the ground surface has changed over time, either through natural processes or as a result of human development (mining, road building, etc.). This used satellite-based radar data that allows millimetric changes in ground elevation to be detected.<br /> <br /> ==Soil and near-surface gases==<br /> Soil and near surface gas monitoring was carried out by scientists from the British Geological Survey. Background concentrations of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, CH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;, oxygen (O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;), hydrogen sulfide (H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;S), radon (Rn) and CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux (the rate at which the gas is coming out of the ground) were measured in the soil. These measurements provide baseline data collected prior to any operations in the area.<br /> <br /> <br /> Information icon<br /> Environmental baseline monitoring: soil gas. BGS © UKRI.<br /> <br /> ==Radon in air==<br /> As part of the environmental monitoring investigation, measurement of radon in air was carried out by Public Health England (now the UK Health Security Agency) in the Fylde and the Vale of Pickering. The project involved measurement of baseline concentrations of radon both in the open air and in homes.<br /> <br /> [[Category:Shale gas environmental monitoring]]</div>

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