Analysis of factors affecting heat flow density determination in the Liaohe Basin,North China

Structural relief of the pre-Cenozoic basement and groundwater flow have been found to be the two most important factors affecting the heat flow density determinations in the Liaohe Basin. The reason for the significant effect of basement relief upon subsurface temperature and heat flow density patterns is the strong contrast of thermal conductivity between basement rock and the sedimentary cover. Simplified model computations indicate that the heat flow density in the region of basement uplift is 1.35 times greater than that in the region of depressions. Field observations indicate that the temperatures at shallow depths (less than 1200 m) are strongly perturbed by groundwater flow leading to reduced temperatures and geothermal gradients in the Neogene formation. Comparison of observed and calculated gradients reveals that reduced gradients and heat flow density occur in the groundwater recharge area whereas these parameters are enhanced in the discharge area. After taking the perturbing factors into account, a regional heat flow value of 65 ± 9 mW/m² is obtained.