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Heat flow in Italy

  • Regional Heat Flow
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Abstract

More than fifty heat flow measurements in Italy are examined. The values, corrected only for local influences (when present), are related to the main geological features with the following results: foreland areas, 55±19 mW m−2, foredeep areas, 45±21 mW m−2; folded regions and intermountain depressions, 76±29 mW m−2. In volcanic areas the heat flow rises to in excess of 600 mW m−2. From a tectonic point of view, these values are consistent with the hypothesis that the Apennine chain is intersected by two arcuate structures: the first from Liguria to Latium is very probably a continental arc, that is an are which occurs within a continent, and the second from Campania to Calabria is very similar from geophysical evidence to the classic island arcs.

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Loddo, M., Mongelli, F. Heat flow in Italy. PAGEOPH 117, 135–149 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879741

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879741

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