Mapping Geothermal Features and Usage of Thermal Camera in Monitoring Geothermal Fields. Case from Námafjall and Theistareykir High Temperature Fields in NA Iceland

Abstract

With advances in thermal imaging and thermal cameras becoming more like conventional cameras, imaging of geothermal features in the field is becoming an important alternative to conventional methods. In previous studies infrared images used in geothermal fields have mainly been with air images and Landsat images. Handheld thermal cameras have been used in volcanology but not so much in geothermal mapping. In Iceland previous studies have mainly been with air images (infrared) that have cover large areas. In our previous work we have used handheld infrared camera to map and monitor geothermal fields additionally with conversional methods. This paper outlines a study where ground based thermal images are compared with results from conventional geothermal and soil temperature mapping. With data obtained in Theistareykir and Námafjall NA-Iceland thermal image taken from the ground are compared with geothermal mapping in-situ thermocouple measurements. Results show the same pattern although temperature from the thermal camera is lower than the in-situ temperature. The difference between the measurements is significant, the temperature measurements are done at 15 cm depth but the thermal camera from several hundred meters. So the temperature difference between the methods ranges from 30-75°C depending on circumstances