geothermal gradient

[¦jē·ō¦thər·məl ′grād·ē·ənt]

(geophysics)

The change in temperature with depth of the earth.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Geothermal Gradient

the amount by which the temperature of rock rises per 100 meters’ increase in the depth of the deposits. The average gradient for crust depths that are accessible to direct temperature measurement is taken to be approximately 3° C. It varies from place to place as a function of the shape of the earth’s surface, thermal conductivity of the rock, subterranean water circulation, the proximity of volcanic foci, and the various chemical reactions taking place in the earth’s crust. The regular rise in temperature with increasing depth shows the existence of heat flow from the interior of the earth to its surface. The amount of this flow is equal to the product of the geothermal gradient and coefficient of thermal conductivity.

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References in periodicals archive

The used available databases for possible impact factors, respectively, are stratum and lithology, structure characteristics, volcanic activities, water chemical characteristics, geothermal gradient, seismic activities, and hot water temperature.

Coupling Empowerment Based Application of Extension Method for Geothermal Potential Assessment

where Z is the depth of geothermal water circulation, G is the reciprocal of the geothermal gradient (m/[degrees]C), Tz is the geothermal reservoir temperature ([degrees]C), [T.sub.0] is the annual average temperature of the recharge area ([degrees]C), and [Z.sub.0] is the depth of the local constant-temperature zone (m).

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Formation of the Madeng Hot Spring in Yunnan, China

Geologists call this the Earth's "geothermal gradient", driven by heat produced at the Earth's core that radiates towards the crust.

A hot tip for our old mining areas; CHARLOTTE ADAMS and JON GLUYAS, of Durham University, on how we can use old coal mines to decarbonise heat

The geothermal gradient, which is the difference in temperature between the core of the planet and its surface, drives a continuous conduction of thermal energy in the form of heat from the core to the surface.

Geo Power

The geothermal gradient of indicated prospective regions is above 58[degrees]C/km and the average in Slovakia is about 38[degrees]C/km.

Development of region by utilization of Geothermal Power Plant

The one big question in Kettler's mind is whether a high enough geothermal gradient exists underground to power massive electric generators.

Can fracking lead the way to clean energy? A promising geothermal technology just might do the trick

As pointed out, for example, by Tinivella and Giustiniani [1], the understanding of gas hydrates, their stability, and relationship to overpressure conditions at its base, water depth, and geothermal gradient are very important, not only in the aspects of hazard potential.

Indications for the occurrence of gas hydrates in the fram strait from heat flow and multichannel seismic reflection data

It was contributed by the thinned out Earth crust (33 km in average), the geothermal heat flow density (83-111 mW/m2), and the high geothermal gradient (which is the highest in Vojvodina, 5.26 [degrees]C/100 m) which values are twice the European average.

Contribution to study conditions of formation, distribution and use of healing waters in Serbia

A calculated P-T path for this kyanite-grade event in the Baltoro indicates that primitive garnet growth occurred on an initially high geothermal gradient (~30degC) followed by a near-isothermal rapid increase in pressure.

Duration of metamorphism in the Karakoram Metamorphic Complex, North Pakistan

Further analysis was conducted with a numerical model to ac count for subsurface heterogeneity, the site geothermal gradient and the varying surface temperature.

Numerical simulation of geothermal energy transfer beneath exothermic waste rock piles