GEOTHERMAL TEST FOR TECTONIC BLOCK STRUCTURE

Abstract

A comparison of the probability density distribution of the heat flux with the distribution of dimensions of blocks shows that the two are qualitatively identical. Two characteristic peaks are identified on these distributions: (a) the first linear-dimension peak defines the sizes of blocks of the upper crust bounded from below by the surface of the consolidated basement, while the second defines the characteristic size of blocks of the crust and lithosphere as a whole; (b) the first peak on the heat flux density distribution defines the characteristic geothermal field of (tectonically passive) crustal blocks, while the second defines that in zones of their interaction. Thus there is a qualitative agreement between the probability distributions of two mutually dependent random variables characterizing one common global physical process. The broadest geothermal measure of the latter is the thermal energy Q, the product of the heat flux density by the area of the block. In contrast to the heat flux density, this quantity is an additive property of the field.