Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland

Abstract Curie depths beneath Greenland are revealed by spectral analysis of data from the World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map 2. A thermal model of the lithosphere then provides a corresponding geothermal heat flux map. This new map exhibits significantly higher frequency but lower amplitude variati...

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Main Authors: Yasmina M. Martos, Tom A. Jordan, Manuel Catalán, Thomas M. Jordan, Jonathan L. Bamber, David G. Vaughan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-08-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078289
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author Yasmina M. Martos
Tom A. Jordan
Manuel Catalán
Thomas M. Jordan
Jonathan L. Bamber
David G. Vaughan
author_facet Yasmina M. Martos
Tom A. Jordan
Manuel Catalán
Thomas M. Jordan
Jonathan L. Bamber
David G. Vaughan
author_sort Yasmina M. Martos
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Curie depths beneath Greenland are revealed by spectral analysis of data from the World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map 2. A thermal model of the lithosphere then provides a corresponding geothermal heat flux map. This new map exhibits significantly higher frequency but lower amplitude variation than earlier heat flux maps and provides an important boundary condition for numerical ice‐sheet models and interpretation of borehole temperature profiles. In addition, it reveals new geologically significant features. Notably, we identify a prominent quasi‐linear elevated geothermal heat flux anomaly running northwest–southeast across Greenland. We interpret this feature to be the relic of the passage of the Iceland hotspot from 80 to 50 Ma. The expected partial melting of the lithosphere and magmatic underplating or intrusion into the lower crust is compatible with models of observed satellite gravity data and recent seismic observations. Our geological interpretation has potentially significant implications for the geodynamic evolution of Greenland.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
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language English
publishDate 2018-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-7976c6bdf50645fab5322975deb285222025-08-20T02:46:20ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072018-08-0145168214822210.1029/2018GL078289Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath GreenlandYasmina M. Martos0Tom A. Jordan1Manuel Catalán2Thomas M. Jordan3Jonathan L. Bamber4David G. Vaughan5British Antarctic Survey, NERC Cambridge UKBritish Antarctic Survey, NERC Cambridge UKRoyal Observatory of the Spanish Navy Cádiz SpainBristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UKBristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UKBritish Antarctic Survey, NERC Cambridge UKAbstract Curie depths beneath Greenland are revealed by spectral analysis of data from the World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map 2. A thermal model of the lithosphere then provides a corresponding geothermal heat flux map. This new map exhibits significantly higher frequency but lower amplitude variation than earlier heat flux maps and provides an important boundary condition for numerical ice‐sheet models and interpretation of borehole temperature profiles. In addition, it reveals new geologically significant features. Notably, we identify a prominent quasi‐linear elevated geothermal heat flux anomaly running northwest–southeast across Greenland. We interpret this feature to be the relic of the passage of the Iceland hotspot from 80 to 50 Ma. The expected partial melting of the lithosphere and magmatic underplating or intrusion into the lower crust is compatible with models of observed satellite gravity data and recent seismic observations. Our geological interpretation has potentially significant implications for the geodynamic evolution of Greenland.https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078289geothermal heat fluxBouguer gravity anomalyIceland hotspot trackborehole temperature profiles
spellingShingle Yasmina M. Martos
Tom A. Jordan
Manuel Catalán
Thomas M. Jordan
Jonathan L. Bamber
David G. Vaughan
Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
Geophysical Research Letters
geothermal heat flux
Bouguer gravity anomaly
Iceland hotspot track
borehole temperature profiles
title Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
title_full Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
title_fullStr Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
title_full_unstemmed Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
title_short Geothermal Heat Flux Reveals the Iceland Hotspot Track Underneath Greenland
title_sort geothermal heat flux reveals the iceland hotspot track underneath greenland
topic geothermal heat flux
Bouguer gravity anomaly
Iceland hotspot track
borehole temperature profiles
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078289
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AT thomasmjordan geothermalheatfluxrevealstheicelandhotspottrackunderneathgreenland
AT jonathanlbamber geothermalheatfluxrevealstheicelandhotspottrackunderneathgreenland
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