Heat Transport in Sedimentary Basins

Abstract

The temperature increases downwards in the crust and there is therefore a transport of heat upwards, referred to as the heat flow. Most of the flow is by conduction (thermal diffusion). Flow of porewater will also transport heat in the subsurface but the flow rates in sedimentary basins are normally so small that we can ignore the contribution from fluid flow. Around igneous intrusions there is usually thermal convection with high flow rates and heat transport. In shallow areas with high flow rates of meteoric water, advective heat transport is also significant.