Hydro-JULES natural superficial deposits hydrogeological typology

This report describes a small work package undertaken as part of the NERC-funded Hydro-JULES project. One of the outputs of this project is a national hydrogeological model and to aid its development a semi-conceptual approach was developed to characterise the natural superficial geology at 1 km2 scale. This approach effectively attempts to classify the relative permeability and complexity of the natural superficial geology down to bedrock. It is envisaged that the classes developed within this approach can be characterised numerically (with hydrogeological attributes) and used to inform the numerical groundwater model. The approach was trialled in six areas across lowland England to test and refine the approach: (1) Surrey; (2) North Norfolk coast; (3) Breckland; (4) Waveney Valley; (5) UK GEOS site and adjacent parts of Cheshire; and (6) Vale of Eden. Recommendations are made for the roll-out of the methodology across the UK plus several notable data gaps are highlighted. In particular, the development of a robust aquifer-to-surface hydrogeological model requires additional datasets that characterise the basic hydrogeological properties of bedrock at rockhead, and an understanding of the thickness and extent of the zone of bedrock weathering.