An audio-magnetotelluric investigation in Terceira Island (Azores)

Ten audio-magnetotelluric soundings have been carried out along a profile crossing the Serra do Cume caldera in the eastern part of the Terceira Island (Azores). The main objectives of this investigation were to detect geoelectrical features related with tectonic structures and to characterize regional hydrological and hydrothermal aspects mainly those related to geothermal fluid dynamics.Three-dimensional numerical investigation showed that the data acquired at periods shorter than 1 s are not significantly affected by ocean effect. The data was analysed using the Smith's decomposition method in order to investigate possible distortions caused by superficial structures and to estimate a global regional strike. The results suggest that in general the soundings were not distorted. A regional N55°W strike was chosen for the two-dimensional data inversion.The low-resistivity zones (10–30 ohm-m) displayed in the central part of the 2-D geoelectrical model have been interpreted as caused by hydrothermal circulation. The low-resistivity anomalies at the ends of the profile might be attributed to alteration zones with interaction of seawater intrusion. High-resistivity (> 300 ohm-m) values have been related with less permeable zones in the SW of Cinco Picos and Guilherme Moniz caldera walls.     

A review of the thermal regime of the Eastern Alps with respect to the effects of paleoclimate and exhumation

Transient thermal signals such as Pleistocene surface temperature variations or exhumation of great rock volumes are important for the current thermal regime of the Eastern Alpine crust. In this study transient 1-D forward simulations and an analytical approach were used to estimate the order of magnitude of these effects. A comparison with numerical forward simulations and inverse analyses of steady-state heat conduction yields the following main conclusions with respect to the thermal regime of the Eastern Alps along the TRANSALP profile: (1) The change of surface temperatures in the past affects mainly the uppermost part of the Eastern Alpine crust. It results in a maximum thermal signature of more than − 6 K at a depth of 2 km. The deviations from a steady-state temperature gradient and heat flow in the region of the Tauern Window range from 0.3–4 K km^− 1 and 0–6 mW m^− 2, respectively, with maximum values at the surface. (2) Exhumation of the Eastern Alpine lithosphere may result in a thermal signature of up to 4 K at a depth of 1 km. The thermal signature increases further with depth to a maximum of approximately 80 K at a depth of 50 km. As the temperature gradient of the exhumation signal is almost zero at the base of the crust, Moho heat flow appears to be not critically perturbed. (3) The combined effect of exhumation and changing surface temperatures at the Tauern Window amounts to less than 15% of the steady-state temperatures at a depth of  8 km and to less than 10% at the base of Eastern Alpine root. The corresponding perturbation in heat flow is less than 20% at a depth of 4 km, approaching zero below 40 km.     

Temperature dependence of the relationship of thermal diffusivity versus thermal conductivity for crystalline rocks

Thermal diffusivity governs the transient heat transport equation. Thus, a realistic characterisation of this parameter and its temperature dependence is crucial for geothermal modelling. Due to sparse information from boreholes, lack of samples, and elaborate measurement procedures, there is often insufficient data on thermal diffusivity at elevated temperatures. We make use of existing data on crystalline (metamorphic and magmatic) rock samples from the Kola Peninsula and the Eastern Alps and develop a general relationship for the temperature dependence of thermal diffusivity up to 300°C. The temperature dependence of thermal conductivity is parameterised itself, using an empirical relationship which is set up for both data sets as well. Hence, only thermal conductivity at ambient temperatures is required for determining the temperature dependence of thermal diffusivity. We obtain different coefficients for both data sets which can be explained by different geological settings, and therefore different mineral compositions and internal structures. Comparisons with other expressions for these rock physical parameters show a good agreement at ambient conditions. General relations for thermal diffusivity at elevated temperatures are rare. A comparison of our results with data from two crystalline samples from the KTB and data from the Southern Indian Granulite Province highlights the need for further data, which will help to quantify uncertainties.     

Joint three-dimensional inversion of coupled groundwater flow and heat transfer based on automatic differentiation: sensitivity calculation, verification, and synthetic examples

Inverse methods are useful tools not only for deriving estimates of unknown parameters of the subsurface, but also for appraisal of the thus obtained models. While not being neither the most general nor the most efficient methods, Bayesian inversion based on the calculation of the Jacobian of a given forward model can be used to evaluate many quantities useful in this process. The calculation of the Jacobian, however, is computationally expensive and, if done by divided differences, prone to truncation error. Here, automatic differentiation can be used to produce derivative code by source transformation of an existing forward model. We describe this process for a coupled fluid flow and heat transport finite difference code, which is used in a Bayesian inverse scheme to estimate thermal and hydraulic properties and boundary conditions form measured hydraulic potentials and temperatures. The resulting derivative code was validated by comparison to simple analytical solutions and divided differences. Synthetic examples from different flow regimes demonstrate the use of the inverse scheme, and its behaviour in different configurations.     

Development of potential ecological niches in impact-induced hydrothermal systems: The small-to-medium size impacts

Effect of meteorite impact on the biological evolution is usually considered by its catastrophic consequences. However, the impacts can create opportunity for other organisms and the structures themselves can serve as suitable ecological niches (oases) for life. In this contribution we present results of modeling of an impact-induced hydrothermal (IHT) system in a small-to-medium sized impact crater, where the development of zones habitable for primitive hydrothermal thermophilic and hypethermophilic microorganisms was studied. The impact and geothermal modeling was verified against the 4-km diameter Kärdla complex structure, Hiiumaa Island, Estonia. If there is an sufficient amount of water present in the target (e.g., sea cover, groundwater or permafrost resources) then the differential temperature fields created by the impact initiate a hydrothermal circulation system within the crater. The results of transient fluid flow and heat transfer simulations in Kärdla suggest that immediately after impact the temperatures in the central area, which contains the most hydrothermal alteration, were well above the boiling point. However, due to efficient heat loss at the groundwater vaporization front, the vapor-dominated area disappears within a few decades. In the central uplift area, the conditions favorable for thermophilic microorganisms (temperatures <100 °C) were reached in 500–1000 years after the impact. The overall cooling to ambient temperatures in the deeper parts of the central uplift lasted for thousands of years. In the crater depression and rim area the initial temperatures, suggested by the impact modeling, were much lower—from 150 °C to ambient temperatures, except locally in fracture zones and suevite pockets. Our data suggest that in small-to-medium size impact craters with insignificant melting, the suitable conditions for hydrothermal microbial communities are established shortly (tens to few hundreds of years as maximum) after the impact in most parts of the crater. In the central uplift area the microbial colonization is inhibited for about a thousand years. However, this is the area, which afterwards retains the optimum temperatures (45–120 °C) needed for hydrothermal microorganisms for the longest period. Geochemical and mineralogical data suggest, in general, neutral pH 7(±1) fluid of the IHT system, which is, when compared to volcanic hydrotherms, richer in dissolved oxygen and poor in reduced compounds. This suggests the preference for sulfur-reducing microorganisms in the possible impact-induced hydrothermal communities.     

The geothermal regime of the northern Yukon and Mackenzie delta regions of northwest Canada — studies of two regional profiles

Temperature data from deep petroleum exploration wells and thermal conductivity estimates based on net rock analysis data have been used to make terrestrial heat flow estimates along two profiles across the sedimentary strata of the Mackenzie Delta, northern Yukon, and offshore Beaufort Sea regions.Both profiles exhibit low heat flow values that range from 34 mWm^–2 to 58 mWm^–2, and little change occurs over large distances in the continental part of the area. Low heat flow values (<40 mWm^–2) occur in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin and Rapid Depression, both of which are areas of thick successions of Cretacecus and Tertiary clastic sedimentary strata. High heat flow values of almost 80 mWm^–2 occur to the south in the Taiga Nahoni Foldbelt and values as high as 60 mWm^–2 are indicated along the Aklavik Arch Complex, northeast of Aklavik.The regional variations of effective thermal conductivity are insufficient to account for the heat flow variations along the profiles, and so these may indicate deep radiogenic or other heat sources.     

近年来我国地热学的研究与展望

简要回顾了近年来我国地热研究的现状及取得的重要进展，包括大地热流、岩石层热状态、地壳-上地慢热结构、地热与气候变化、灾害环境以及矿山地热、油田地热、地热资源等；并从固体地球科学发展动向及国民经济需求两个方面，展望我国理论地热学和应用地热学研究的今后发展方向     

台湾海峡及其两岸地震和地热特征

本文主要论述了台湾海峡及其两岸地震和地热的各自特征以及它们之间的关系。该地区的4个北东向地震带刻划了各个块体的相互关系。台东地震带的震源机制解表明台湾纵谷具有复杂的过渡性构造。台湾西部和台湾海峡的地震活动也受到菲律宾海板块的控制。福建沿海的地震活动与巴士断层活动有关。在自东向西各地震带的活动能量急剧下降的同时,相应的地热流异常值有一个上升趋势,海峡西岸的地热异常高值多分布在NE与NW向断裂的交汇点上。