On terrain corrections in terrestrial heat flow

The theory of heat-flow variation over a Lees-type hill is well known for evaluating terrain effects on terrestrial heat flow. However, a hill cannot be converted into a valley by simply changing the sign of one of the terrain-defining parameters, nor can several Lees' hills be superposed to simulate a series of hills and valleys for correcting a terrain-induced disturbance of heat flow. The proper derivations for a Lees-type valley are presented and the superposition is compared with analytic solutions for two parallel semi-cylindrical valleys and two semi-spherical basins embedded in an otherwise planar ground. Generally, heat flux climaxes over central valleys or basins, and dips toward their margins where rapid change in topography occurs. Variation of heat flux induced by a three-dimensional terrain is relatively large, as compared to two-dimensional features, but its areal extent is relatively limited. The two-dimensional effects also extend relatively deeper. In applying two-dimensional algorithms to a three-dimensional terrain, the correction may be over- or underestimated depending on the distance from a borehole to prominent terrain features in the surrounding area.