Ireland has become one of the few countries in the world to complete a detailed airborne geophysical survey, according to the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI). After "16 years and over 440,000 km of flying", the survey known as the Tellus Programme has undertaken its final flight.
The airborne survey took off in 2011 in the border region, with European Interreg cross-border funding. The Tellus Programme, managed by GSI (part of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment), then became a national survey funded by the National Development Plan.
This final flight ensures data has been collected from all corners of the country, GSI says. This makes Ireland one of the best geologically mapped countries in the world and a leader in geophysical survey data in Europe, it says.
A map showing shows the magnetic total intensity response from different rocks in Ireland
The airborne survey – operated by the specialist Canadian company Sander Geophysics Ltd – collects magnetic, electromagnetic, and natural radioactivity data from the rocks and soils below our feet. The data is turned into maps and used to support the management of our natural resources, assist environmental monitoring, identify radon risk areas, and improve geological mapping.
GSI director Koen Verbruggen described it as “a hugely significant moment for Ireland as we will have better scientific data to help make decisions on how we best manage our natural resources”. “We will be making this data freely available, and I look forward to seeing it support policy, industry and research in a variety of areas. Finally, I would like to thank all who have been involved in this fantastic project.”
Data has been processed and is currently available to download from GSI’s website for about 80% of the county. The final data will be merged with all the other survey data and will be available in 2027. All data and maps are free to download.
A ‘magnetic’ map of Ireland highlighting the more magnetic basalts in Northern Ireland, the highly magnetic volcanic centres in Lough Gur, Limerick and Kildare, and the poorly magnetic Leinster Granite and North Mayo basin
Due to the low-flying nature of the aircraft, which flew at an altitude of just 60m, an extensive operational communications programme was undertaken.
GSI says it would like to thank all the team, along with all landowners and stakeholders, for their assistance and co-operation over the last 16 years, and pays tribute to “the skill and dedication of the pilots who have probably seen more of Ireland than anyone else”.
Due to the delicate nature of the instruments on-board and the technical requirement not to fly in rain, wind or cloud, considerable patience was required by all stakeholders involved, it says.
However, that patience has been rewarded, and the national datasets produced will be of great benefit to the state in the future, it adds.
