Glossary: A
Definition of some of the technical words in our reports that begin with the letter 'A'
Abstraction Licence
An abstraction licence details what is permitted such as how much water is allowed to be abstracted and at what times and shows further details of the location, licence number and the source.
Artificial ground
A term used by BGS for those areas where the ground surface has been significantly modified by human activity.
Ancient Woodland
Areas that are believed to have had continuous woodland cover for at least 400 years and have a higher nature conservation value than those that have developed recently. They are categorised in four ways; Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW), Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS), Restored Ancient Woodland Site (RAWS) and Ancient Woodland Site of unknown category (AWSU).
Annually
Data which is updated once a year.
Aquifer
A body of rock through which appreciable amounts of water can flow. Aquifers are an important source of fresh water in many parts of the UK.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
An area of countryside with significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by Natural England for its flora, fauna, historical and cultural associations and/or scenic views.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and has been used in buildings predominantly for fire protection, thermal insulation and as a binder in thousands of products until its importation was banned in November 1999.