Unravelling the terrestrial heat flow of a young orogen: The example of the northern Apennines

We suggest an approach to infer the steady-state conductive heat flow in tectonically active regions. New heat flow data were inferred through a minimization technique taking into account temperatures, radiogenic heat production and the thermal conductivity variation with depth from deep wells. The method was generally successful in discriminating the thermal regime. Crustal radiogenic heat contribution estimates suggest that heat-flow values lower than 45 mW m(-2) are unreliable in the Apennines. The eastward decrease of heat flow from 149 to 55 mW m(-2) implies that the rheological and tectonic setting of the orogeny is also related to the thermal state.

Automated summary

This study proposed a method to infer steady-state conductive heat flow in tectonically active regions by utilizing a minimization technique. New heat flow data was obtained by considering temperatures, radiogenic heat production, and thermal conductivity variation with depth. The research successfully differentiated thermal regimes and provided estimates on crustal radiogenic heat contribution, revealing a correlation between heat flow decrease towards the east and rheological and tectonic settings in orogenic areas.