Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct heat. In the Earth's subsurface, thermal conductivity values are crucial for understanding how heat is transferred through rocks and sediments. Interval thermal conductivity refers to the thermal conductivity values measured over a specific length interval in the Earth's crust or mantle, typically vertical. These values help geoscientists calculate heat flow rates, assess geothermal energy potential, and model temperature distributions in the subsurface. By analyzing interval thermal conductivity data, researchers can better understand the thermal properties of rocks and sediments at different depths, aiding in the study of Earth's thermal structure and geodynamic processes.

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.