| Abstract |
In northern Canada, many communities remain disconnected from the North American energy grid and depend heavily on imported hydrocarbons for heat and electricity. This study investigates the potential of geothermal energy as a renewable alternative by integrating remotely sensed multispectral imagery from Landsat 8 with ground surface temperature (GST) monitoring to evaluate subsurface heat flow in relation to deep fault systems. A GST monitoring network comprising 65 stations, each equipped with two temperature probes was deployed in 2022 in the study area. Landsat 8 images from multiple seasons were processed to extract features and detect geothermal heat flow anomalies (GHFAs) based on retrieved land surface temperature (LST). A significant geothermal anomaly was identified in the fluvial fan of the Duke River near its confluence with Kluane Lake. This anomaly, aligned along a narrow linear zone east of the Denali Fault, includes a strong northern segment and a weaker southern segment. The northern anomaly coincides with a potential permeable zone extending to the surface, supported by magnetotelluric (MT) resistivity data. The southern anomaly, situated deeper within the same dipping structure, shows reduced surface expression due to its greater burial depth. The anomalies are associated with a “mini pull-apart basin” formed by recent strike-slip movements along the Denali Fault. Satellite imagery also reveals migration of river channels within the delta, further supporting evidence of active tectonics and its linkage with potential geothermal heat flows. |