The deep thermal field of the Upper Rhine Graben

The Upper Rhine Graben has a significant socioeconomic relevance as it provides a great potential for geothermal energy production. The key for the utilisation of this energy resource is to understand the controlling factors of the thermal field in this area. We have therefore built a data-based lit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tectonophysics 2017-01, Vol.694, p.114-129
Main Authors: Freymark, Jessica, Sippel, Judith, Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena, Bär, Kristian, Stiller, Manfred, Fritsche, Johann-Gerhard, Kracht, Matthias
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3D conductive thermal field
3D gravity modelling
3D structural model
Alpine environments
Blanketing
Cenozoic
Earthquake construction
Geothermal energy
Geothermal power
Graben
Gravitation
Gravity
Groundwater
Groundwater flow
Lithosphere
Mathematical models
Modelling
Scale (ratio)
Sediments
Temperature
Thermal properties
Thermodynamic properties
Three dimensional models
Upper Rhine Graben
Variscan domains
Water flow
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Upper Rhine Graben has a significant socioeconomic relevance as it provides a great potential for geothermal energy production. The key for the utilisation of this energy resource is to understand the controlling factors of the thermal field in this area. We have therefore built a data-based lithospheric-scale 3D structural model of the Upper Rhine Graben and its adjacent areas. In addition, 3D gravity modelling was performed to constrain the internal structure of the crystalline crust consistent with seismic information. Based on this lithosphere scale 3D structural model the present-day conductive thermal field was calculated and compared to measured temperatures. Our results show that the regional thermal field is mainly controlled by the configuration of the upper crust, which has different thermal properties characteristic for the Variscan and Alpine domains. Temperature maxima are predicted for the Upper Rhine Graben where thick insulating Cenozoic sediments cause a thermal blanketing effect and where the underlying crustal units are characterised by high radiogenic heat production. The comparison of calculated and measured temperatures overall shows a reasonable fit, while locally occuring model deviations indicate where a larger influence of groundwater flow may be expected. •The lithospheric-scale conductive thermal field is numerically modelled in 3D•The 3D model differentiates primary stratigraphic units by physical properties•Gravity anomalies attest to a density-heterogeneous upper crystalline crust•Thick insulating sediments overlying radiogenic crust cause temperature maxima
ISSN:0040-1951
1879-3266
DOI:10.1016/j.tecto.2016.11.013