- Research Article
30
- 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1985.tb06415.x
Regional variations of heat flow differences with depth in Alberta, Canada
- May 01, 1985
- Geophysical Journal International
- J A Majorowicz + 3 more +3
Summary. Differences between estimated average heat flow values for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic formations (el) and estimated average heat flow values for the Palaeozoic formations below the erosional unconformity (Q2) are calculated for the Alberta part of the western Canadian sedimentary basin. Significant heat flow differences exist for these two intervals and the map of AQ = Ql - Q2 shows that Q2 is generally greater than Ql in the western and south-western part of Alberta, while in the northern part of the province Q2 is generally less than Ql. The regional variations of AQ are large, with standard deviation of 26 mW m-’ and average value - 13.5 mW m-2. A regional trend of AQ correlates with topographic relief and the hydraulic head variations in the basin. It is shown that there is a heat flow increase with depth in water recharge areas and a decrease in heat flow with depth in the low topographic elevation water discharge areas when comparing the average heat flow in Mesozoic + Cenozoic and Palaeozoic formations.
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