Correlation of Heat Flow and Crustal Topography in the Indian Region

Abstract

Possible correlations of geothermal data, over the Indian sub‐continent, with respect to topography, crustal thickness, geological age and Bouguer gravity anomaly, have been examined. Heat flow and geothermal gradient in general decrease with the increase in topography, crustal thickness and geological age. A significant correlation between the Bouguer gravity anomaly and the geothermal parameters is also noted. From the analysis of results, in terms of factors contributing to the geothermal field, one may surmise that in the high heat flow areas, contributions from the isotherms, due possibly to a partial melting zone, might also be considerable. A brief discussion of the geothermal field distribution, as conceived from the study, is also given in view of the protocontinental type of crustal growth. Copyright © 1976, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved