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How the Largest European Soil Dataset Was Born

posted by martyb on Friday January 05 2018, @09:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the worm-food dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Ten years of planning and sampling has led to the creation of the largest harmonised European soil dataset, and the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission's science and knowledge service, is ready to carry out the most comprehensive assessment of soil biodiversity across the continent.
...
Around 22,000 samples were collected from all European Union (EU) Member States in 2009-2012, while a further 23 000 samples were acquired in 2015 from the EU, Switzerland and Western Balkan countries.

Scientists are now concluding the process of analysing the physico-chemical soil properties of the second batch. Once completed, the JRC will be able to carry out assessments of how the impacts of EU and national land based policies—such as those designed to tackle climate change and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - are manifested through changes in soil characteristics over time.

The assessment includes things like the physical and chemical properties of the soil, biodiversity, density, structure and pollutants present.

The dataset will give agricultural scientists, climatologists, microbiologists, geographers, and others the most fine-grained survey ever undertaken in Europe to inform their research.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @11:00AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 06 2018, @11:00AM (#618706)

    and put all the samples aside so we can eat in the same room as where the piss samples are sitting away on the counter. The boss doesn't like it when we do that, because he thinks it's "weird," or something, but every industry has that one uncool boss bitching and moaning.

    Maybe your former coworkers weren't idiots, but you are. The fact that you consume food in a lab/room where materials, which should be considered biohazard-labelled, are stored/present as well (do you wash your hands?), would be enough reason for a safety officer to get you kicked out of the lab because of not following safety protocols.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @01:37AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @01:37AM (#619815)

    The samples have tightly screwed-on lids.
    They are no more a hazard than a wall of soup cans.
    Are you THAT squeamish?

  • (Score: 1) by Goghit on Monday January 15 2018, @06:10AM

    by Goghit (6530) on Monday January 15 2018, @06:10AM (#622452)

    Meh, forget the labelling, just eating in the lab should get you punted.

    Having said that, the story rings true. Technicians are a special breed. You're only as good as your data, and your data is only as good as the technician collecting it. This has kept me awake some nights.