Discussion of High Heat Flow and Geothermal Activities in Southern Tibet

Abstract

This paper covers three parts. The first one deals with the heat generation of granitoids in Southern Tibet which varies with petrological characteristics. The terrestrial heat flow in Southern Tibet is discussed in the second part referring to anomalously high heat flows of 146 ± 17 mW/m2 and 91 ± 5 mW/m2 which have been observed at the bottom of two lakes (Yamzhog Lake and Puma Lake respectively). The observed high heat flow can be produced by thick granites with high heat generation capacity. In the third part the high heat flow and the distribution of geothermal systems are compared; their spatial variation suggests the existence of shallow crustal heat anomalies which, together with the high heat flow is probably the source for the geothermal systems within the Himalayan Geothermal Belt.