Heat Flow and Thermal Structure of the Lithosphere

Effects of mantle rheologies on viscous heating induced by Glacial Isostatic Adjustment

“…1 and the peak magnitude is of the order of 10-30 mW m −2 . To put these numbers in perspective, the mean continental heat flux is around 65 mW m −2 (Jaupart & Mareschal 2007) and the mantle heat flux in Canada is about 15 mW m −2 (Jaupart & Mareschal 2007). Thus, the transient heat flux from viscous dissipation due to GIA is not negligible at 13 kBP.…”

Thermomechanical modeling of the Altiplano-Puna deformation anomaly: Multiparameter insights into magma mush reorganization

“…The surface is set to 275 K and the lower boundary at z = -35 km has an inward heat flux of 0.09 W/m 2 . Ignoring radiogenic heat production and assuming constant thermal conductivity, a reference geotherm of 30 K/km is thus obtained (Jaupart and Mareschal, 2009). This reference geotherm is maintained in the model only along the right-side boundary, because the temperature distribution in most of the modeling domain it is strongly influenced by the magmatic plumbing system (APMB and column).…”

Plate Rheology and Mechanics

“…a controls the mantle part of the geotherm much more than the surface heat flux, q. This explains why for the same value of heat flux, q, and identical rheological parameters, some authors predict very 'hot' geotherms and, consequently, weak mantle behavior ( Jackson, 2002;Mackwell et al, 1998), whereas others (e.g., Jaupart and Mareschal, 1999;Jaupart and Mareschal, 2007 and this study) predict colder geotherms, hence stronger behavior. Seismic and seismic tomography data and geothermal data (e.g., Mareschal, 1999, 2007) suggest that continental lithosphere should be on average thicker than oceanic lithosphere (150-350 km compared to 100-125 km).…”

“…This model is characterized by a time of cooling t, also called thermotectonic age, has a vertically heterogeneous structure, and accounts for radiogenic heat production in the crust. According to this model, the thermal structure of the continental lithosphere becomes stationary after 400-700 Ma since the last major thermal event (e.g., Burov and Diament, 1995;Jaupart and Mareschal, 2007). The assumed difference in the mechanical properties of the upper crust, lower crust, and mantle may lead to the appearance of weak ductile zone(s) in the lower crust that allows for mechanical decoupling of the upper crust from the mantle (e.g., Bird, 1991;Chen and Molnar, 1983;Kuznir and Park, 1986;Lobkovsky and Kerchman, 1992).…”