LITHOSPHERIC THERMAL REGIMES IN EUROPE

The heat flow pattern of Europe, derived from more than 8000 observations, is dominated by a general northeast to southwest increase in geothermal activity, which is the consequence of the tectonic evolution of the whole continent. This paper reviews the history of the geothermal mapping of Europe, and describes the recently compiled set of geothermal maps of Europe. Surface heat flow is correlated with the age of the last tectonothermal event, with the near-surface heat production and with the crustal thickness. Deep temperature distributions within the crust-lithosphere are calculated for 1-D, 2-D and simple 3-D models. Characteristic temperature-depth curves are given for some of the major tectonic provinces, and the results of various techniques are compared. The value of the crustal heat contribution is assessed and a regional Moho heat flow pattern is proposed. The Mohorovicic discontinuity is clearly not an isothermal surface, neither is the heat flow from below the crust constant.