Inversion approach for thermal data from a convecting hydrothermal system

Hydrothermal systems are often studied by collecting thermal gradient data and temperature/depth curves. These data contain important information about the flow field, the evolution of the hydrothermal system, and the location and nature of the ultimate heat sources. Thermal data are interpreted by the “forward” method; the thermal field is calculated based on selected initial conditions and boundary conditions such as temperature and permeability distributions. If the calculated thermal field matches the data, the chosen conditions are inferred to be possibly correct. Because many sets of initial conditions may produce similar thermal fields, users of the “forward” method may inadvertently miss the correct set of initial conditions. Analytical methods for “inverting” data also allow the determination of all the possible solutions consistent with the definition of the problem. In this paper we suggest an approach for inverting thermal data from a hydrothermal system, and compare it to the more conventional approach. We illustrate the difference in the methods by comparing their application to the Salton Sea Geothermal Field by Lau (1980a) and Kasameyer, et al. (1984). In this particular example, the inverse method was used to draw conclusions about the age and total rate of fluid flow into the hydrothermal system.     

REGIONAL GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION IN EGYPT*

Although Egypt is not characterized by abundant Cenozoic igneous activity, its location in the northeastern corner of the African plate suggests that it may possess geothermal resources, especially along its eastern margin. Regional geothermal exploration has been carried out in Egypt using the thermal gradient/heat flow technique and groundwater temperature/chemistry technique. In the thermal gradient/heat flow study, existing oil-well bottom-hole temperature data as well as subsurface temperature measurements in existing boreholes were utilized before special thermal gradient holes were drilled. Groundwater temperature and chemistry data were used to extend the geographic range of the direct subsurface thermal measurements. On a very modest budget, a regional thermal high has been discovered along the eastern margin of Egypt, and a local thermal anomaly has been discovered in this zone. Published geological information suggests that the sandstones of the Nubian Formation may be a suitable reservoir for geothermal fluids. The new data indicate that temperatures of 150°C or higher may be found in this reservoir in the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea coastal zone where it lies at a depth of 4 km and deeper.     

Case 27 thermal infrared anomaly precursor of impending earthquakes

People have already recognized the temperature increase anomaly before earthquakes, and studies have been made on this phenomenon (Wu, 1980;Wu et al., 1982;Geng, 1985). With the method of fixed-point network observation, only the timing temperature data limited to some sites can be obtained instead of dynamic evolution data of the temperature in a large area within the seismogenic range. However, it is advantageous to use the thermal infrared (IR) radiation measured by Meteosat to detect the ground temperature, because of the data accuracy, large area coverage, large amount of information, and the capability of capturing the time-space dynamic variation of the temperature increase before earthquakes. However relevant works on the relationship of the thermal IR anomaly measured by Meteosat to seismic activity are only found published in the Soviet Union (Gornuy et al., 1988). The authors used the thermal IR anomaly measured by Meteosat to monitor and tried to predict the earthquake of October 18, 1989 in Datong, Shanxi Province and other shocks, and obtained preliminary ideas and methods for carrying out predictions in this way.     

Assessing the potential of drone‐based thermal infrared imagery for quantifying river temperature heterogeneity

Climate change is altering river temperature regimes, modifying the dynamics of temperature‐sensitive fishes. The ability to map river temperature is therefore important for understanding the impacts of future warming. Thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing has proven effective for river temperature mapping, but TIR surveys of rivers remain expensive. Recent drone‐based TIR systems present a potential solution to this problem. However, information regarding the utility of these miniaturised systems for surveying rivers is limited. Here, we present the results of several drone‐based TIR surveys conducted with a view to understanding their suitability for characterising river temperature heterogeneity. We find that drone‐based TIR data are able to clearly reveal the location and extent of discrete thermal inputs to rivers, but thermal imagery suffers from temperature drift‐induced bias, which prevents the extraction of accurate temperature data. Statistical analysis of the causes of this drift reveals that drone flight characteristics and environmental conditions at the time of acquisition explain ~66% of the variance in TIR sensor drift. These results shed important light on the factors influencing drone‐based TIR data quality and suggest that further technological development is required to enable the extraction of robust river temperature data. Nonetheless, this technology represents a promising approach for augmenting in situ sensor capabilities and improved quantification of advective inputs to rivers at intermediate spatial scales between point measurements and “conventional” airborne or satellite remote sensing.     

Fluvial thermal erosion: heat balance integral method

In periglacial regions, frozen river banks are affected by thermal and mechanical erosion. In Siberia, bank retreats of up to 40 m per year are observed. This thermal erosion occurs during a few weeks, at springtime, for high enough water temperatures and river discharges. Until now, models of thermal erosion have been based on the assumption of a constant thermal erosion rate. We have developed a more general model at variable rate, whose solution is calculated using the integral method. Results of this model are compared with experiments, carried out in a cold room. A hydraulic channel allows measurements of the thermal erosion rate of a ground ice sample subjected to a turbulent water flow. Once validated, the model is applied to the periglacial river study case. The model has contributed to better understanding of the roles of each parameter during the thermal erosion process. High water temperature, discharge and ice temperature produce major thermal erosion, whereas the ice content in the soil tends to slow down the thermal erosion process. The effects of water temperature are predominant. An acceleration phase characterized by an increase of the thermal erosion rate occurs at the beginning of the thermal erosion process. The duration of such an acceleration phase is systematically studied. A relatively long acceleration phase is related to a low ablation rate. During the flood season, when the water temperature is increased to 18 °C, this acceleration phase lasts only a few minutes. However, for data typical of periglacial rivers, when the water temperature is close to the melting point, the acceleration phase can last a few days. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sulfur hexafluoride as a complementary method for measuring the extent of point-source thermal effluents

The transport and dilution dynamics of power-plant thermal effluent were measured for 10 consecutive days, between 25 June and 4 July 2006, by concurrently mapping the daily distributions of seawater temperature and concentrations of deliberately released sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) within the tidal Kwangyang Bay on the southern coast of Korea. Estimates of the daily extent of the thermal plume based on temperature and SF(6) data showed distinct differences. These differences were particularly pronounced on sunny days during which solar radiation significantly heated river or bay waters moving across the tidal flats; in these cases, the estimates based on seawater temperature data were consistently greater than those based on SF(6) data, indicating considerable overestimates of the extent of the thermal plume when temperature data were used. The present results indicate that the concurrent use of seawater temperature and SF(6) data is a powerful method in determining the extent of thermal plumes, particularly for shallow areas in which the effects of solar heating lead to large uncertainties in temperature-based estimates.     

Longitudinal and temporal thermal patterns of the French Rh?ne River using Landsat ETM+ thermal infrared images

Understanding the thermal regime of rivers is a key issue for predicting ecosystem change in the context of global warming. However, water temperature is not only influenced by air temperature. To better highlight relative contribution of factors controlling water temperature, we used satellite thermal infrared (TIR) images from Landsat ETM+ to investigate longitudinal and temporal variations in thermal patterns of the French Rh?ne River. Because satellite TIR remote sensing is limited to large rivers, we used an automated water extraction technique to remove pixels contaminated by terrestrial surfaces. We calculated water surface temperatures of the 500?km long reach for 83 dates between 1999 and 2009. The average accuracy and uncertainty of our data, ±1.1 and ±0.4°C for reaches with more than 3?pixels across and ±1.4 and ±0.5°C for reaches with one to 3?pixels across, are comparable to other satellite TIR studies of rivers. Our results confirmed previous studies on the thermal impacts of tributaries and nuclear power plants on the Rh?ne, providing an understanding of their seasonal pattern and their longitudinal impact. We showed temperature differences of 0?C2°C within the largest hydroelectric bypass facilities between the bypass section and the canal, with Montélimar and Caderousse showing the most pronounced differences. Discussion points concern the potential impacts of tributaries and nuclear power plants on the spatio-temporal thermal patterns, as well as the factors responsible for thermal differences in the bypass facilities: length and minimum flow of the bypass section, and tributaries coming into this reach.     

analysis on modis satellite thermal infrared information before and after the jinggu ms6.6 earthquake

Continuous MODIS/Terra satellite thermal infrared remote sensing data of the Jinggu M_S6.6 earthquake area from July 2014 to January 2015 is collected, and after cloud-removing, the thermal infrared data between 5:00a.m.-7:00a.m. Beijing Time, which is the best period for observation, is selected to perform land surface temperature data retrieval and analyze the temporal evolution of land surface temperature anomalies before and after the earthquake, as well as the relationship between abnormal spatial distribution and active fault. The impacts of non-structural factors such as topography, landform and seasonal weather of the earthquake zone on land surface temperature anomalies are discussed. The result shows that: a)there was thermal infrared anomalous temperature increase appearing near the epicenter two months before the M_S6.6 Jinggu earthquake and there was a certain correspondence between the anomalous temperature increase and earthquake occurrence time. The significant temperature increase happened in the first half of the month, reached its peak 7 days before the earthquake, and dropped rapidly after the earthquake. At the same time, there was also anomalous temperature increase to a certain extent appearing about half month before the strong aftershocks of magnitude 5.8 and 5.9; b)Through the correlation analysis of non-structural factors such as topography, landform and seasonal weather of the earthquake zone, it is found that the structural "temperature increase" before the Jinggu M_S6.6 earthquake was the information indicating the anti-season change of temperature increase in the earthquake zone; c)The anomalous temperature increase was cross-developed from the epicenter along the NS-NE trending conjugate faults, which is consistent roughly with the NNE-SSW predominant direction of the maximum principal stress of the regional tectonic stress field. After full consideration of the influence of non-structural factors such as topography, landform and seasonal weather on the abnormal temperature increase, it is inferred that this thermal infrared temperature increase is possibly a short-imminent anomaly before the earthquake.     

Weathering of granite in Antarctica: II. Thermal stress at the grain scale

Granular disintegration has long been recognized and referred to in weathering texts from all environments, including the Antarctic. Despite this universal identification and referral, few to no data exist regarding thermal conditions at this scale and causative mechanisms remain little more than conjecture. Here, as part of a larger weathering study, thermal data of individual grains (using infrared thermometry and ultra‐fine thermocouples) composing a coarse granite, as well as the thermal gradients in the outer 10 cm (using thermistors), were collected from a north‐facing exposure. Measurements were also made regarding the surface roughness of the rock. Based on recorded temperatures, the nature of the rock surface and the properties of the minerals, an argument is made for complex stress fields that lead to granular disintegration. Mineral to mineral temperature differences found to occur were, in part, due to the changing exposure to solar radiation through the day (and through seasons). Because the thermal conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion of quartz are not equal in all directions, coupled with the vagaries of heating, this leads to inter‐granular stresses. Although fracture toughness increases with a decrease in temperature, it is suggested that the tensile forces resulting from falling temperatures are able to exceed this and produce granular disassociation. The lack of equality with respect to crystal axis of both thermal conductivity and expansion in quartz further exacerbates the propensity to failure. Grain size and porosity also influence the thermal stresses and may help explain why some grains are held in place despite disassociation near the surface. While the data presented here appear to beg more questions than providing answers, they do provide a basis for better, more detailed studies of this important weathering scale. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF SANDSTONES USING A VARIABLE STATE APPROACH*

Common problems encountered during the determination of the thermal conductivities of tight sandstones are rock specimen-to-heat source contact and complicated sample preparation. An experimental technique using an electromagnetic heat source solves the direct contact problem between the heat source and the sample. Also, it simplifies the sample preparation and reduces the measurement time. A CO₂ laser operating in a pulsed mode is used as a heat source with about 500 W output power. Thus, heat losses due to radiation and air convection are negligible. Unpolished penny-sized samples of tight sandstones are irradiated on one side and the temperature is measured on the opposite side. The temperature is recorded with 12-bit accuracy by a digital data acquisition system. Carbon black is used to give the samples a uniform absorption. The transient temperature data are acquired, processed, and interpreted with interactive computer programs. Transients for each sample can be stacked, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and normalized. The thermal conductivity is calculated from the rise portion of the transient using a ridge-regression type generalized linear inversion scheme. As many as 20 samples per hour can be measured with this simple but expensive set-up. In the long run, this means a reduction of laboratory expenses. In addition, the resolution of this method is superior to other variable-state measurement methods due to the real time controlled data acquisition and the numerical interpretation.     

Effects of hydrogeological and climate change on the subsurface thermal regime in the Sendai Plain

We estimated the effects of hydrogeological and surface temperature warming on subsurface thermal regime from the temperature-depth profiles and hydrological data of groundwater quality both in the quaternary and tertiary systems in the Sendai Plain as a preliminary step toward reconstruction of climate changes.Annual mean air temperature in the plain has increased about 1.5 °C in the last 70 years and this surface warming resulted in low or negative thermal gradient. However, anomaly of thermal gradient was recognized in not all temperature-depth profiles. Groundwater chemical compositions and stable isotope data (δD and δ¹⁸O) show that the groundwater flow system has marked difference between those of tertiary and quaternary systems. Calculated results of three dimensional groundwater flow and heat transport model ensure the above hypothesis and shows that thermal gradient changes at close to basement of the quaternary system. The differences in groundwater flow systems are expressed as subsurface thermal gradient anomalies in the temperature-depth profiles in the Sendai Plain. Furthermore, one-dimensional numerical analyze including the effect of surface warming indicates that calculated profile has departure from steady state line at depths in 60-80 m agree well with observed one.     

Perspectives on present-day sea level change: a tribute to Christian le Provost

In this paper, we first discuss the controversial result of the work by Cabanes et al. (Science 294:840–842, 2001), who suggested that the rate of past century sea level rise may have been overestimated, considering the limited and heterogeneous location of historical tide gauges and the high regional variability of thermal expansion which was supposed to dominate the observed sea level. If correct, this conclusion would have solved the problem raised by the IPCC third assessment report [Church et al, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 881, 2001], namely, the factor two difference between the 20th century observed sea level rise and the computed climatic contributions. However, recent investigations based on new ocean temperature data sets indicate that thermal expansion only explains part (about 0.4 mm/year) of the 1.8 mm/year observed sea level rise of the past few decades. In fact, the Cabanes et al.’s conclusion was incorrect due to a contamination of abnormally high ocean temperature data in the Gulf Stream area that led to an overestimate of thermal expansion in this region. In this paper, we also estimate thermal expansion over the last decade (1993–2003), using a new ocean temperature and salinity database. We compare our result with three other estimates, two being based on global gridded data sets, and one based on an approach similar to that developed here. It is found that the mean rate of thermosteric sea level rise over the past decade is 1.5±0.3 mm/year, i.e. 50% of the observed 3 mm/year by satellite altimetry. For both time spans, past few decades and last decade, a contribution of 1.4 mm/year is not explained by thermal expansion, thus needs to be of water mass origin. Direct estimates of land ice melt for the recent years account for about 1 mm/year sea level rise. Thus, at least for the last decade, we have moved closer to explaining the observed rate of sea level rise than the IPCC third assessment report.     

基于MODIS数据的伽师—阿图什交界MS5.8地震热红外异常检测研究

以2011年8月11日在伽师—阿图什交界处发生的5.8级地震为例,利用MODIS的LST产品数据,采用STL分解法有效地去除地表温度时空数据中的年变趋势及季节因素周期性的影响,对其余的残余项进行GESD异常检测,并分析2008年1月1日至2013年1月1日的LST异常及其他地震的关系数据,研究结果表明:(1)地表温度的变化具有明显的时空变化趋势;利用STL分解法可以看出震前存在明显的热红外异常,增温现象经历了"出现-扩大-分散增温-增温幅度达到极值-消失-发震"等几个阶段。(2)发震前四个月研究区周围存在明显的热红外异常,2月10日发震断层周围出现大面积异常,异常特征持续2个月后的4个月发震,峰值距发震时刻时间间隔较长。(3)余震分布与断裂带和热红外异常分布特征相关,震后大部分余震主要分布在主震发生的震前出现热红外异常的断裂带附近。(4)通过对比同地区相似震例发现,本次地震与2018年9月4日伽师县M_S5.5地震的热异常特征有许多共同点,其中相同的峰值距发震时刻的时间间隔具有一致性,为震前热红外异常特征的归纳提供典型的参考信息。该次地震热红外异常显著,进一步验证了...     

Thermal characteristics of coal fires 2: Results of measurements on simulated coal fires

In this paper we present thermal characteristics of coal fires as measured during simulated fires under an experimental setting in Germany in July 2002. It is thus a continuation of the previously published paper “Thermal surface characteristics of coal fire 1: Results of in-situ measurement”, in which we presented temperature measurements of real subsurface coal fires in China [Zhang, J., Kuenzer, C., accepted for publication. Thermal Surface Characteristics of Coal Fires 1: Results of in-situ measurements. Accepted for publication at Journal of Applied Geophysics.]. The focus is on simulated coal fires, which are less complex in nature than fires under natural conditions. In the present study we simulated all the influences usually occurring under natural conditions in a controllable manner (uniform background material of known thermal properties, known ventilation pathways, homogeneous coal substrate), creating two artificial outdoor coal fires under simplified settings. One surface coal fire and one subsurface coal fire were observed over the course of 2 days. The set up of the fires allowed for measurements not always feasible under “real” in-situ conditions: thus compared to the in-situ investigations presented in paper one we could retrieve numerous temperature measurements inside of the fires. Single temperature measurements, diurnal profiles and airborne thermal surveying present the typical temperature patterns of a small surface-and a subsurface fire under undisturbed conditions (easily accessible terrain, 24 hour measurements period, homogeneous materials). We found that the outside air temperature does not influence the fire's surface temperature (up to 900 °C), while fire centre temperatures of up to 1200 °C strongly correlate with surface temperatures of the fire. The fires could heat their surrounding up to a distance of 4.5 m. However, thermal anomalies on the background surface only persist as long as the fire is burning and disappear very fast if the heat source is removed. Furthermore, heat outside of the fires is transported mainly by convection and not by radiation. In spatial thermal line scanner data the diurnal thermal patterns of the coal fire are clearly represented. Our experiments during that data collection also visualize the thermal anomaly differences between covered (underground) and uncovered (surface) coal fires. The latter could not be observed in-situ in a real coal fire area. Sub-surface coal fires express a much weaker signal than open surface fires and contrast only by few degrees against the background. In airborne thermal imaging scanner data the fires are also well represented. Here we could show that the mid-infrared domain (3.8 μm) is more suitable to pick up very hot anomalies, compared to the common thermal (8.8 μm) domain. Our results help to understand coal fires and their thermal patterns as well as the limitations occurring during their analysis. We believe that the results presented here can practicably help for the planning of coal fire thermal mapping campaigns — including remote sensing methods and the thermal data can be included into numerical coal fire modelling as initial or boundary conditions.     

DELINEATION OF SHALLOW SALT DOMES AND SURFACE FAULTS BY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS AT A DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES*

The feasibility of using temperature measurements at a depth of about 2 m for locating and delineating salt domes and faults has been investigated both theoretically and in experimental field surveys. It is shown that measurable temperature anomalies in the soil are to be expected over shallow salt domes. In a field survey over a salt-dome area bordering the Groningen gas field, a large number of temperature measurements were made in small holes (2 m deep, 3 cm in diameter) within a relatively short time (some weeks). The results clearly indicate several temperature anomalies with differential temperatures of about 1°C. Comparison of our thermal contour map with interpretations of available seismic or gravity data, or with direct evidence from wells, showed an excellent correlation. Seismic data even support the shape of the thermal contours. Results in similar agreement with gravity or well data were obtained over salt ridges in a tropical area. Experiments showed that the technique worked as well in lakes and marshes as on dry land. In addition, some experimental evidence collected so far over shallow and surface faults is presented. In several cases, strong thermal anomalies coincided with known surface faults. A thermal model for a surface-fault zone is suggested which accounts satisfactorily for the observed thermal data. It suggests some diagnostic value for the fault's geometry. For shallow faults, however, lack of knowledge of subsurface detail prevented any unambiguous correlation with observed thermal anomalies. Accordingly any geological use of thermal analysis over shallow faults remains debatable. The field technique is simple, needs little correction and can, where useful, easily be included in routine gravity work to provide additional local information.     

Genetic inverse algorithm for retrieval of component temperature of mixed pixel by multi-angle thermal infrared remote sensing data

After carefully studying the results of retrieval of land surface temperature(LST) by multi-channel thermal infrared remote sensing data, the authors of this paper point out that its accuracy and significance for applications are seriously damaged by the high correlation coefficient among multi-channel information and its disablement of direct retrieval of component temperature. Based on the model of directional radiation of non-isothermal mixed pixel, the authors point out that multi-angle thermal infrared remote sensing can offer the possibility to directly retrieve component temperature, but it is also a multi-parameter synchronous inverse problem. The results of digital simulation and field experiments show that the genetic inverse algorithm (GIA) is an effective method to fulfill multi-parameter synchronous retrieval. So it is possible to realize retrieval of component temperature with error less than 1K by multi-angle thermal infrared remote sensing data and GIA.     

Monitoring Soil Water Content by Vertical Temperature Variations

The availability of high sensitivity temperature sensors (0.001 K sensitivity platinum resistors), which can be positioned at intervals of a few centimeters along a vertical profile in the unsaturated zone, allows short‐term in situ determinations—one day or even less—of the thermal diffusivity. The development of high data storage capabilities also makes this possible over long periods and the relative variations in thermal diffusivity allow the monitoring of the variations in water content. The processing of temperature measurements recorded at different depths is achieved by solving the heat equation, using the finite elements method, with both conductive and convective heat transfers. A first set of measurements has allowed this approach to be validated. Water content variations derived from thermal diffusivity values are in excellent agreement with TDR measurements carried out on the experimental site at Boissy‐le‐Châtel (Seine et Marne, France).     

2010年玉树地震多参量热异常研究

本文对玉树地震前后的热异常多参量变化进行分析研究,主要包括长波辐射（Outgoing Longwave Radiation）,地表温度（Land Surface Temperature）,NCEP地面气温（National Center for Environmental Prediction）和地下水温。研究结果证实玉树地震前确实存在热异常现象。在多参量中,地下水温最早出现异常并且异常持续时间最长;其次出现热异常的是反映地表介质辐射属性的长波辐射;地表温度出现热异常的时间要晚于长波辐射;NCEP地面温度反映了一定垂直厚度的平均大气温度,因此最晚出现热异常现象。同时,玉树地震前的多参量热异常区域都位于震中南部或西南部。     

Luminescence thermochronometry of feldspar minerals: Optimisation of measurement conditions for the derivation of thermal kinetic parameters using isothermal holding experiments

Luminescence thermochronometry is sensitive to very low temperatures (below ∼120 °C), and enables the resolution of thermal histories over sub-Quaternary timescales. Here we apply a multi-elevated-temperature post-infrared infrared-stimulated luminescence (MET-pIR-IRSL) measurement protocol to feldspar minerals to extract thermal histories. These thermal histories depend on the thermal stability of the MET signal, and are based on the thermal kinetic parameters extracted from isothermal decay experiments. However, the derived thermal kinetic parameters vary with experimental conditions, specifically with the isothermal holding temperatures (ITL) used. We analyse samples with independently known thermal histories, together with synthetic thermal history samples and samples with unknown thermal histories to test the validity of thermal kinetic parameters obtained from different combinations of isothermal holding data. This approach is tested on feldspars of different mineralogies and lithologies. We find that the temperatures inferred from inverting the data change, depending both on the number and on the highest ITL temperature used for thermal kinetic parameter derivation. Analysed samples validate the MET-pIR-IRSL protocol for extracting thermal histories, and we suggest that four isothermal holding temperatures between 190 and 250 °C are used for appropriate thermal kinetic parameter derivation.     

Thermal structure and thickness of the lithospheric mantle underlying the Siberian Craton from the kraton and kimberlit superlong seismic profiles

A self-consistent approach is proposed for the investigation of the thermal conditions, chemical composition, and internal structure of the upper mantle of the Earth. Using this approach, the thermal state of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Siberian Craton (SC) is reconstructed from P velocities, taking into account the phase transitions, anharmonicity, and the effects of anelasticity. The velocities of seismic waves are more sensitive to temperature than to the composition of the mantle rocks, which allows the velocity models to be effectively used for reconstruction of the thermal regime of the mantle. The temperature at depths 100–300 km is reconstructed by inversion of the Kraton and Kimberlit superlong seismic profiles for compositions of the garnet harzburgite, lherzolite, and intermediate composition of garnet peridotite. The averaged temperature in the normal continental mantle is reconstructed by inversion of the IASP91 reference model for depleted and fertile substance. One-dimensional models and two-dimensional thermal fields undergo a substantial fall in temperature (～300–600°C) beneath the Siberian Craton as compared to the temperatures of the continental mantle and paleotemperatures inferred from the thermobarometry of xenoliths. Temperature profiles of the Siberian Craton deduced from seismic data lie between the conductive geotherms of 32.5–40.0 mW/m² and below the P(H)-T values obtained for low- and high-temperature xenoliths from the Mir, Udachnaya, and Obnazhennaya kimberlite pipes. The thickness of the thermal lithosphere estimated from the intersection with the potential adiabat is 300–320 km, which is consistent with the data on heat flows and seismotomographic observations. This provides grounds for the assumption that the low-temperature anomalies (thermal roots of continents) penetrate down to a depth of 300 km. The analysis of the sensitivity of seismic velocity and density to the variations in temperature, pressure, and chemical and phase composition of petrological models shows that recognition of fine differences in chemical composition of the lithospheric rocks by seismic methods is impossible.