| Abstract |
Geothermal features can be ranked for significance according to various selection criteria. This can assist with assigning geothermal systems to categories based on gradations of desired protection versus development status. Geothermal feature types can be classified by initially separating them into three main groups: active features that are predominantly subject to subsurface fluid management; associated thermal habitats that are mostly the subject of land use management; and remnant features that are also subject to land use controls. Tiered tables of feature types, subtypes and examples, allows for application of ranking values of significance, through assessments of criteria such as rarity and vulnerability to reservoir utilisation. A proposed ranking scheme for categorisation of geothermal systems takes into account five primary criteria (thermal feature types, habitat rarity, landscape values, natural hazards, and access/size constraints). |