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Modelling of thermal anomalies in the NW border of the Valencia Trough by groundwater convection
Author(s) -
Fernández Manel,
Torné Montserrat,
Zeyen Hermann
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl017i001p00105
Subject(s) - geology , submarine pipeline , trough (economics) , advection , groundwater , groundwater flow , aquifer , anomaly (physics) , convection , borehole , geophysics , geomorphology , petrology , oceanography , meteorology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , physics , condensed matter physics , economics , macroeconomics , thermodynamics
A 2D numerical model study of a regional scale thermal anomaly along the north Spanish border of the Mediterranean Sea indicates strong lateral offshore heat transport due to groundwater circulation. Although the area is situated at the western side of the Valencia Trough rift zone, the amplitude and wavelength of this coupled negative‐positive anomaly cannot be explained by conductive heat flow. A strong hydraulic gradient onshore and a thick layer of permeable Mesozoic limestones should permit lateral advection of pore water about 30 km offshore where discharge creates anomalous temperature gradients. This result underscores the importance of deep groundwater flow even in the interpretation of regional scale thermal anomalies in rifting zones.