Heat flow data and thermal structure in northeastern Japan

Abstract

AbstractNew heat flow data corrected for climate change over Northeastern Japan were obtained using the temperature profile of the borehole of the High Sensitivity Seismograph Network (Hi-net). The obtained spatial distribution of heat flow shows low heat flow on the forearc side, high heat flow along the Ou Backbone Range, and low heat flow in the plains on the back-arc side. However, the distribution is not clearly divided into high and low heat flow along the VF front; for example, the low heat flow extends from near the northern Kitakami Mountains on the forearc side to the Ou Backbone Range crossing the VF, while the high heat flow extends to the central Kitakami Mountains and Sendai plain on the forearc side. In addition, a crustal temperature structure model was developed that considers into account the presence of sedimentary layers, the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity, and differences in heat generation due to lithology. There is a good correlation between this temperature structure and the lower limit of the seismogenic layer, which is between 400 and 450 °C. Compared to previous studies, the crustal thermal structure calculation method assumed is a model whose estimated temperature distribution is sensitive to structural differences; however, a more accurate estimation of the temperature structure is possible if detailed structural information is available. On the other hand, it seems necessary to treat fluid behavior in more detail in areas of high heat flow. However, the estimation of crustal temperature structure, especially in regions with thick sedimentary layers, is considered an improvement over the previous study. Graphical Abstract