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Analysis of a Conductive Heat Flow Profile in the Ecuador Fracture Zone

Kolandaivelu, Kannikha Parameswari; Harris, Robert N.; Lowell, Robert P.; Alhamad, Ahmed; Gregory, Emma; Hobbs, Richard

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Authors

Kannikha Parameswari Kolandaivelu

Robert N. Harris

Robert P. Lowell

Ahmed Alhamad

Emma Gregory

Richard Hobbs



Abstract

We report 18 new conductive heat flow measurements collected from a sediment pond located in the inactive part of the Ecuador Fracture Zone in the Panama Basin. The data were collected along an east–west transect coincident with a multi-channel seismic reflection profile that extends from ODP Hole 504B to west of the sediment pond. Conductive models indicate that heat flow should decrease from ≈400 mW m−2 on the 1.5 Ma western plate to ≈200 mW m−2 on the 6 Ma eastern plate; however the observed heat flow increases nearly linearly toward the east from approximately 140 mW m−2 to 190 mW m−2. The mean value of 160 mW m−2 represents an average heat flow deficit of ≈50%, which we attribute to lateral advective heat transfer between exposed outcrops on the western and eastern margins of the sediment pond. We apply the well-mixed aquifer model to explain this eastwardly flow, and estimate a volumetric flow rate per unit length in the north–south direction of View the MathML source through the basement aquifer. Using a Darcy flow model with the mean flow rate, we estimate permeabilities of ∼10−11 and 10−12 m2 for aquifer thicknesses of 100 and 1000 m, respectively. The estimated permeabilities are similar to other estimates in young oceanic upper crust and suggest that vigorous convection within the basement significantly modifies the thermal regime of fracture zones. Additional heat flow data are needed to determine the prevalence and importance of advective heat transfer in fracture zones on a global scale.

Citation

Kolandaivelu, K. P., Harris, R. N., Lowell, R. P., Alhamad, A., Gregory, E., & Hobbs, R. (2017). Analysis of a Conductive Heat Flow Profile in the Ecuador Fracture Zone. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 467, 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.03.024

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 22, 2017
Online Publication Date Apr 6, 2017
Publication Date Apr 6, 2017
Deposit Date Mar 27, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Print ISSN 0012-821X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 467
Pages 120-127
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.03.024

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