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International Conference Report: Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure
News and Views
583
less stress on the economic aspects of its objectives. This phase of the cycle is due partly to the fact that the search for, and development of, low and high enthalpy geothermal deposits involves many technological (drilling, reservoir management, economics of various energy transmission systems, etc.) and legal (e.g. are the geothermal deposits classed as water resources or mineral deposits?) aspects as well as basic science aspects, and partly to the rise in activity of the Geothermal Resources Council of Amerca which has recently become more international in scope. So much so that there is now an independent committee working on the legal and financial aspects of creating a new International Geothermal Association. If this does occur we must expect less interest in the IHFC pertaining to these matters, but we must guard against losing all interest. A. E. Beck (Chairman)
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT: TERRESTRIAL FLOW AND THE LITHOSPHERE STRUCTURE
HEAT
The International Meeting "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" was held at Bechyne, Czechoslovakia from 1 to 6 June 1987. The Meeting was organized by the Geophysical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and was sponsored by the International Heat Flow Commission. It was well attended by 81 scientists from 24 countries, and as such it included an important part of the world heat flow community. This Meeting was the second of its kind organized in Czechoslovakia, following the successful workshop "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" held at Liblice in 1982 [see IUGG Chronicle, No. 157 (1982), pp. 197-198]. As the general aim of the Meeting was the same and also to keep the tradition, the organization and the basic program were similar to that of the 1982 workshop. However, to encourage more discussions and exchange of ideas a substantial poster session was prepared and the number of oral presentations was limited. This enabled better personal contacts and informal conversations among all attendees. The oral presentations were subdivided into the following groups. - - General aspects of geothermics (three papers), which covered discussions on a more rigorous approach to various problems of heat flow investigations together with a better assessment of error bars in determining the main geothermal parameters, a review of heat and mass transfer in porous media, and comments on the thermal history of old oceanic lithosphere. - - Basic problems of contemporary geothermics (seven papers), about the thermal structure of the continental lithosphere, crustal and lithospheric rheology, downward continuation and inversion of heat flow data, heat production and petrological models of the crust, comparison of oceanic and continental heat flow and geothermics of large sedimentary basins. - - Regional heat flow studies represented the major part of all delivered communications, summarizing and interpreting observed heat flow data in terms of deep crustal and lithospheric structure and of geodynamical evolution. Six papers focused on heat flow studies in North America covering detailed investigations in the Canadian shield, Western Canada platform and active western continental margins, in the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian orogen and the Snake River Plain. European studies addressed the East European platform, Central Europe, Spain, France, Italy, Romania and Hungary together with marine observations in the Western Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, plus one paper on the thermal and mechanical aspects of the lithosphere growth in Iceland. Five papers dealt with Asian heat flow pattern: Siberian platform, south Tibet, south-east Asia, Soviet maritime province and adjacent sea regions.
584
News anti Views
- - Miscellaneous: three additional papers discussed the interpretation of heat flow data from the deep Kola borehole, corrections for non-steady state conditions in boreholes and the application of climatic corrections to heat flow studies. The oral presentations (a total of 37 papers) were complemented by R. Cataldi's communication on the plans to create a new International Geothermal Association and A. E. Beck's information on the program of the US Symposium "Hydrogeological Regimes and Their Thermal Effects" of the forthcoming IUGG Assembly at Vancouver, August 1987. The Poster Session comprehended 64 presentations subdivided into six categories: (a) Global and regional heat flow studies (19 papers), (b) Interpretation of heat flow data in terms of lithospheric structure together with geothermal models (23 papers), (c) Heat flow vs heat production studies (five papers), (d) Geothermal data and the utilization of geothermal energy (14 papers), (e) Thermal parameters and their measurement (five papers), (f) Miscellaneous (three papers). The majority of the oral presentations as well as a substantial part of all posters were extremely well prepared. The participants could thus derive a good profit from attending the Meeting and discussing the heat flow data in view of new interpretation methods. The construction of subsurface temperature maps and regional heat flow maps is a current issue of basic geophysical studies, and the need of such maps is further substantiated by many applied activities such as mining and drilling reconnaissance, hydrogeology, geothermal energy assessment, hydrocarbon exploration, etc. In addition to the above program, a half day session was reserved to discuss an international project to prepare a Geothermal Atlas of Europe. The Chairman of this part (E. Hurtig) summarized the material obtained till the date of the Meeting and presented it for general discussion. Quite a substantial part of Europe is now covered by 1:2,500,000 and/or 1 : 5,000,000 map sheets, respectively, showing the subsurface temperature distributions at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 km depth, together with original data point observations, heat flow data and their regional pattern. The deadline for the still missing material was fixed and the organization of the final editorial work was agreed. It was also agreed to complete the Atlas by maps showing the crustal thickness (Moho depth), the mean crustal seismic velocity and the depth to the seismic basement. A map displaying thermal springs and active volcanoes should also be prepared. It is planned to complete the Atlas by 1988/89 and should be published in the German Democratic Republic. During the Meeting the Bureau and the Commission meetings of the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC) were held. The agenda covered reports on the past activities of the IHFC, the program of the regular IHFC Meeting during the 19th IUGG General Assembly in Vancouver, August 1987, the distribution of funds, forthcoming publications and the future IHFC cooperation program. It was a fortunate circumstance that the Meeting was attended by Prof. O. Dottin, Secretary-General of the Commission for the Geological Map of the World in Paris (CGMW). Much closer contacts between OHFC and CGMW could thus be established which will definitely help to produce better geothermal maps in future. The whole Meeting was very successful in both scientific as well as in social objectives, i.e. bringing together specialists from various countries and facilitating their discussions in a friendly atmosphere. The Meeting was held in the charming milieu of Bechyne Castle which now belongs to the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, and which was re-arranged to serve small to medium-size scientific conferences. The first reports of the Bechyne Castle data back to the 10th Century and the original wooden structure was rebuilt several times to its present shape, containing architectonical elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Its really charming atmosphere together with the unique international composition of the attending participants created an unforgettable meeting.
News and Views
585
Many of the overseas participants took advantage of being in Europe to participate in the post-conference scientific study tour to visit geothermal energy installation in Hungary. The material of the Meeting will be published in two volumes: (a) selected, more general papers dealing with the interpretation of heat flow in terms of lithospheric structure will form a monograph "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" to be published by Springer Verlag, and (b) shorter contributions summarizing the most recent results in heat flow studies will appear as a special issue of Tectonophysics. It is the sincere hope of the organizers of the Meeting to keep the tradition and to hold a similar conference in four or five years, i.e. in 1991 or 1992, again in the Bechyne of Liblice Castle, Czechoslovakia.
September 1987
Vladimfr ~ermtik (Prague) and Ladislaus Rybach (Zurich)
583
less stress on the economic aspects of its objectives. This phase of the cycle is due partly to the fact that the search for, and development of, low and high enthalpy geothermal deposits involves many technological (drilling, reservoir management, economics of various energy transmission systems, etc.) and legal (e.g. are the geothermal deposits classed as water resources or mineral deposits?) aspects as well as basic science aspects, and partly to the rise in activity of the Geothermal Resources Council of Amerca which has recently become more international in scope. So much so that there is now an independent committee working on the legal and financial aspects of creating a new International Geothermal Association. If this does occur we must expect less interest in the IHFC pertaining to these matters, but we must guard against losing all interest. A. E. Beck (Chairman)
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT: TERRESTRIAL FLOW AND THE LITHOSPHERE STRUCTURE
HEAT
The International Meeting "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" was held at Bechyne, Czechoslovakia from 1 to 6 June 1987. The Meeting was organized by the Geophysical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and was sponsored by the International Heat Flow Commission. It was well attended by 81 scientists from 24 countries, and as such it included an important part of the world heat flow community. This Meeting was the second of its kind organized in Czechoslovakia, following the successful workshop "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" held at Liblice in 1982 [see IUGG Chronicle, No. 157 (1982), pp. 197-198]. As the general aim of the Meeting was the same and also to keep the tradition, the organization and the basic program were similar to that of the 1982 workshop. However, to encourage more discussions and exchange of ideas a substantial poster session was prepared and the number of oral presentations was limited. This enabled better personal contacts and informal conversations among all attendees. The oral presentations were subdivided into the following groups. - - General aspects of geothermics (three papers), which covered discussions on a more rigorous approach to various problems of heat flow investigations together with a better assessment of error bars in determining the main geothermal parameters, a review of heat and mass transfer in porous media, and comments on the thermal history of old oceanic lithosphere. - - Basic problems of contemporary geothermics (seven papers), about the thermal structure of the continental lithosphere, crustal and lithospheric rheology, downward continuation and inversion of heat flow data, heat production and petrological models of the crust, comparison of oceanic and continental heat flow and geothermics of large sedimentary basins. - - Regional heat flow studies represented the major part of all delivered communications, summarizing and interpreting observed heat flow data in terms of deep crustal and lithospheric structure and of geodynamical evolution. Six papers focused on heat flow studies in North America covering detailed investigations in the Canadian shield, Western Canada platform and active western continental margins, in the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian orogen and the Snake River Plain. European studies addressed the East European platform, Central Europe, Spain, France, Italy, Romania and Hungary together with marine observations in the Western Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, plus one paper on the thermal and mechanical aspects of the lithosphere growth in Iceland. Five papers dealt with Asian heat flow pattern: Siberian platform, south Tibet, south-east Asia, Soviet maritime province and adjacent sea regions.
584
News anti Views
- - Miscellaneous: three additional papers discussed the interpretation of heat flow data from the deep Kola borehole, corrections for non-steady state conditions in boreholes and the application of climatic corrections to heat flow studies. The oral presentations (a total of 37 papers) were complemented by R. Cataldi's communication on the plans to create a new International Geothermal Association and A. E. Beck's information on the program of the US Symposium "Hydrogeological Regimes and Their Thermal Effects" of the forthcoming IUGG Assembly at Vancouver, August 1987. The Poster Session comprehended 64 presentations subdivided into six categories: (a) Global and regional heat flow studies (19 papers), (b) Interpretation of heat flow data in terms of lithospheric structure together with geothermal models (23 papers), (c) Heat flow vs heat production studies (five papers), (d) Geothermal data and the utilization of geothermal energy (14 papers), (e) Thermal parameters and their measurement (five papers), (f) Miscellaneous (three papers). The majority of the oral presentations as well as a substantial part of all posters were extremely well prepared. The participants could thus derive a good profit from attending the Meeting and discussing the heat flow data in view of new interpretation methods. The construction of subsurface temperature maps and regional heat flow maps is a current issue of basic geophysical studies, and the need of such maps is further substantiated by many applied activities such as mining and drilling reconnaissance, hydrogeology, geothermal energy assessment, hydrocarbon exploration, etc. In addition to the above program, a half day session was reserved to discuss an international project to prepare a Geothermal Atlas of Europe. The Chairman of this part (E. Hurtig) summarized the material obtained till the date of the Meeting and presented it for general discussion. Quite a substantial part of Europe is now covered by 1:2,500,000 and/or 1 : 5,000,000 map sheets, respectively, showing the subsurface temperature distributions at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 km depth, together with original data point observations, heat flow data and their regional pattern. The deadline for the still missing material was fixed and the organization of the final editorial work was agreed. It was also agreed to complete the Atlas by maps showing the crustal thickness (Moho depth), the mean crustal seismic velocity and the depth to the seismic basement. A map displaying thermal springs and active volcanoes should also be prepared. It is planned to complete the Atlas by 1988/89 and should be published in the German Democratic Republic. During the Meeting the Bureau and the Commission meetings of the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC) were held. The agenda covered reports on the past activities of the IHFC, the program of the regular IHFC Meeting during the 19th IUGG General Assembly in Vancouver, August 1987, the distribution of funds, forthcoming publications and the future IHFC cooperation program. It was a fortunate circumstance that the Meeting was attended by Prof. O. Dottin, Secretary-General of the Commission for the Geological Map of the World in Paris (CGMW). Much closer contacts between OHFC and CGMW could thus be established which will definitely help to produce better geothermal maps in future. The whole Meeting was very successful in both scientific as well as in social objectives, i.e. bringing together specialists from various countries and facilitating their discussions in a friendly atmosphere. The Meeting was held in the charming milieu of Bechyne Castle which now belongs to the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, and which was re-arranged to serve small to medium-size scientific conferences. The first reports of the Bechyne Castle data back to the 10th Century and the original wooden structure was rebuilt several times to its present shape, containing architectonical elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Its really charming atmosphere together with the unique international composition of the attending participants created an unforgettable meeting.
News and Views
585
Many of the overseas participants took advantage of being in Europe to participate in the post-conference scientific study tour to visit geothermal energy installation in Hungary. The material of the Meeting will be published in two volumes: (a) selected, more general papers dealing with the interpretation of heat flow in terms of lithospheric structure will form a monograph "Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure" to be published by Springer Verlag, and (b) shorter contributions summarizing the most recent results in heat flow studies will appear as a special issue of Tectonophysics. It is the sincere hope of the organizers of the Meeting to keep the tradition and to hold a similar conference in four or five years, i.e. in 1991 or 1992, again in the Bechyne of Liblice Castle, Czechoslovakia.
September 1987
Vladimfr ~ermtik (Prague) and Ladislaus Rybach (Zurich)