TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kaiser, Bjoern Onno
A1  - Cacace, Mauro
A1  - Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena
A1  - Lewerenz, Bjoern
T1  - Characterization of main heat transport processes in the Northeast German Basin constraints from 3-D numerical models
JF  - Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
N2  - To investigate and quantify main physical heat driving processes affecting the present-day subsurface thermal field, we study a complex geological setting, the Northeast German Basin (NEGB). The internal geological structure of the NEGB is characterized by the presence of a relatively thick layer of Permian Zechstein salt (up to 5000 m), which forms many salt diapirs and pillows locally reaching nearly the surface. By means of three-dimensional numerical simulations we explore the role of heat conduction, pressure, and density driven groundwater flow as well as fluid viscosity related effects. Our results suggest that the regional temperature distribution within the basin results from interactions between regional pressure forces as driven by topographic gradients and thermal diffusion locally enhanced by thermal conductivity contrasts between the different sedimentary rocks with the highly conductive salt playing a prominent role. In contrast, buoyancy forces triggered by temperature-dependent fluid density variations are demonstrated to affect only locally the internal thermal configuration. Locations, geometry, and wavelengths of convective thermal anomalies are mainly controlled by the permeability field and thickness values of the respective geological layers.
KW  - advection
KW  - convection
KW  - coupled fluid and heat transport
KW  - numerical simulations
KW  - Northeast German Basin
KW  - salt structures
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GC003535
SN  - 1525-2027
VL  - 12
IS  - 13
PB  - American Geophysical Union
CY  - Washington
ER  -