Occurrences of acid sulfate soils Occurrences of acid sulfate soils
The problems caused by runoff from acid sulfate soils into waterways are one of the major environmental problems in Finland. Systematic mapping of acid sulfate soils creates preconditions for effective targeting of preventive measures at the most problematic areas. Development of control and steering methods of the harmful effects of acid sulfate soils are presented in the strategy produced by the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture and the Ministry of the Environment (Guidelines until 2020 regarding the mitigation of the harmful effects of acid sulfate soils). Both the strategy and the water supply management action plan for 2010–2015, produced by the Ministry of the Environment, state that that the main areas of acid sulfate soils, and the loading risks to waterways caused by these areas, should be mapped by 2015 using uniform methods. It has been proposed that GTK should assume responsibility for this mapping.
At the moment, two projects (CATERMASS and HaKu) related to acid sulfate soils are in progress. GTK is responsible for the mapping of acid sulfate soils in both projects. The first map shows the probable aqnd possible areas of acid sulfate soils, which are also the target areas of the current general mapping. NOTE! This map does not show areas of acid sulfate soils, but only shows the area to be mapped!
The mapping situation shows the current progress of the mapping of acid sulfate soils.
Mapping and research of acid sulfate soils produces information on the characteristics and locations of acid sulfate soils. It is important that the information is made readily available for different actors. By establishing a map service, GTK wants to improve the availability and usage of the information on acid sulfate soils. The map service is currently being developed and will be published during 2012 at the latest.
In the map service users can view 1) catchment area-specific general maps of the probable presence of acid sulfate soils and 2) point specific information based on drilling results (pdf) showing, among other data, a cross-section of the soil profile at the drilling site and the results of pH and laboratory analyses (to be added later).
The maps describing probable areas of presence of acid sulfate soils will be created in the ArcGIS environment using multivariate statistics. In addition to the information gathered during the field work, GTK’s data on soil, bedrock, peat and airborne geophysics, as well as the National Land Survey of Finland’s elevation data will be utilised.
The data on acid sulfate soil locations and characteristics used in the map service will be provided by GTK's databases and is owned by GTK. The rights to the catchment area information are owned by Finland’s environmental administration (SYKE). Base-map data comes through the interface service of the National Land Survey of Finland, which also owns the rights. The contents of the map service will be updated regularly.
The user is always responsible for the use of the service and the information it contains. The service and its data are under continuous development, and are subject to change or omission without prior notification. The maps describing probable areas of acid sulfate soils are at a general scale and cannot be used for separate estates.
Please send your feedback and questions concerning the service by using the Feedback link.
Click here for more information on the acid sulfate soils!
