Geothermal gradient refers to the rate of temperature change over a given length interval (typically a depth interval). It reflects how heat flows from the Earth's hot interior toward its cooler surface, driven by conduction, convection, and sometimes advection. Thermal gradient is measured in Kelvin per kilometer (K/km) and varies depending on local geological conditions, such as rock composition and tectonic activity. In regions with high geothermal activity, the thermal gradient is larger, whereas stable cratons tend to have lower gradients. Understanding geothermal gradients helps geoscientists study Earth's geothermal energy potential and processes like plate tectonics and mantle convection.
Defined by
International Heat Flow Commission
Repository
https://github.com/ihfc-iugg/ghfdb-portal
Documentation
https://github.com/ihfc-iugg/ghfdb-portal
Cite as
Fuchs, S., et al. (2021). A new database structure for the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database. International Journal of Terrestrial Heat Flow and Applications, 4(1), pp.1-14.
