Heat flow in the Basin and Range province and thermal effects of tectonic extension

Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
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Abstract

In regions of tectonic extension, vertical convective transport of heat in the lithosphere is inevitable. The resulting departure of lithosphere temperature and thickness from conduction-model estimates depends upon the mechanical mode of extension and upon how rapidly extension is (and has been) taking place. Present knowledge of these processes is insufficient to provide adequate constraints on thermal models. The high and variable regional heat flow and the intense local heat discharge at volcanic centers in the Basin and Range province of the United States could be accounted for by regional and local variations in extensional strain rate without invoking anomalous conductive heat flow from the asthenosphere. Anomalous surface heat flow typical of the province could be generated by distributed extension at average rates of about 1/2 to 1%/m.y., similar to rates estimated from structural evidence. To account for higher heat flow in subregions like the Battle mountain High, these rates would be increased by a factor of about 3, and locally at active bimodal volcanic centers, by an order of magnitude more. ?? 1978 Birkha??user Verlag.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Heat flow in the Basin and Range province and thermal effects of tectonic extension
Series title Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
DOI 10.1007/BF00879732
Volume 117
Issue 1-2
Year Published 1978
Language English
Publisher location Birkha??user-Verlag
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH
First page 34
Last page 50
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