Correlation of Heat Flow with Tectonics (Convective Cells) and Hydrogeological Fields

Abstract

The paper considers the main factors that can lead to the heterogeneorfs thermal field of the lithosphere, and is based on erylerfunental temperature measurements on 200 structufes in the Soviet Union. Heat flow calculations were made, based on the method of determining heat conductivity of tock smø in natural conditions from seismic wave velocities. The peculiarities of the distribution of abyssal heat flow in the Precaucasus rnay be explained by the existence of a hexagonal convective cell in the upper mantle. The local and regional va¡iation of the convective heat flow and its quantitative correlation with the stn¡cttrre of the upper layers of the crust reveal the influence of underground waters in the thermal field. A correction has been applied to the calculaûed heat flow for a¡eas affected by ground u/ater movements. Analysis of the vertical distribution of temperature and heat flow show ttrat ttre thermal field in the outer layers of the Earth is stratified, and the following boundaries can be identiñed: atmospheric, neutral (boundary with constant yearly ûemperatures), hydrogtothennal and
mantle-convective.