Landscapes: An Introduction

Abstract

The approach to describing the landscapes of Ireland is based upon earlier works to describe landscapes of Ireland. The delineation of the landscapes is developed using a digital elevation model in tandem with the Irish Soil Information Systems data, using ArcGIS, geographic information system software. Mountain areas are those that occur above an elevation of 500 m above sea level, while lowlands, are those areas found at an elevation of less than 150 m. Unlike other volumes in this World Soil Series, Ireland is a relatively small island with a strong influence of glaciation, which has resulted in significant changes to the landscape. These glacial influences are clearly defined across a range of physiographic and altitudinal zones. In the lowland areas the physiographic influences are related to the influence of parental material (either limestone or siliceous) or as a result of the influence of groundwater table. Peatlands are an important soil across the Irish landscape, and while these soils appear in other chapters, these soils have a dedicated chapter. Owing to rapid urbanisation in Ireland in the period 2000–2006 the final landscape chapter explores urban soils as urbanisation represents both direct and indirect impacts for the soil resource.