The Application of Geophysics to a Number of Threats to Irish Soils

In its 2002 Communication "Towards a Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection" (COM 2002, 179), the Commission identified the main threats to which soils in the EU are confronted. More recently, the EU published a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection (COM 2006, 231) as well as a proposal for a Soil Framework Directive (COM 2006, 232). The proposed directive, if implemented, will require states to identify a number of specific soil degradation processes that have occurred or are likely to occur in the near future. This project applies a number of recent geophysical developments, in addition to a range of traditional approaches, to a number of areas of Irish concern to Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection and the proposed Soil Framework Directive.