Surface Heat Flow

Heat flow refers to the rate at which heat is transferred from the Earth's interior to its surface. Surface heat flow is the representative heat flow for a given location. Heat flow data are crucial for understanding the geothermal gradient, which indicates how temperature increases with depth beneath the Earth's surface. By analyzing heat flow, scientists can assess the thermal properties of subsurface rocks and fluids, determine the heat generation from radioactive decay within the Earth's crust, and evaluate the potential for geothermal energy resources. This data helps identify areas with higher geothermal potential, guiding the development of geothermal power plants.

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.