| Title | Updated Surface Heat Flow Map of Alaska |
|---|---|
| Authors | Batir, Joseph F.; Blackwell, David D.; Richards, Maria C. |
| Year | 2013 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Alaska; heat flow; conductivity; thermal gradient |
| Abstract | The 2013 update to the Geothermal Map of Alaska (GMAK) is described, including the methodology for heat flow calculation, contouring of the heat flow, and conclusions drawn from the expanded dataset. The previous version of the Geothermal Map of Alaska was published in 2004 with the Geothermal Map of North America by the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory. The 2004 map had sparse data primarily located on the North Slope and in selective areas known to have anomalously high heat flow. This sampling bias towards higher heat flow produced a high heat flow band over much of Alaska that led to faulty interpretations. Between 2004 and 2007 research was focused on specific locations to assess site geothermal potential. In 2012, the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) and Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) commissioned the SMU Geothermal Laboratory to collect new data to update the GMAK. 91 new sites were reviewed, of which 56 were considered of high enough confidence to be included in this version of the GMAK. Results from this edition of the GMAK suggest heat flow throughout Alaska is locally variable, even within a geologic regime. The new data show variable heat flow ranging from high values above 120 mW/ m2 to values below 40 mW/m2. |