{"id":{"repo_id":"woods-hole","oai_identifier":"oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/3214"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/woods-hole/oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/3214","repository":{"repo_id":"woods-hole","name":"Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute","base_url":"https://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Mechanisms of heat transport through the floor of the equatorial Pacific Ocean","abstract":"The equatorial Pacific heat flow low, a major oceanic geothermal anomaly centered on the equatorial sediment bulge, was investigated using deeply penetrating heat flow probes (6-11 meters penetration) within three detailed surveys (400 km2) and along over 10,000 km of continuous seismic profiles (CSP). Previous heat flow measurements in this region defined a broad region characterized by a heat flux well below 1 HFU. We report 98 new measurements collected during cruises PLEIADES 3 and KNORR 73-4 that verify the anomalous nature of the heat flux and also define non-linear temperature gradients (concave down). Temperature field disturbances due to perturbations of a purely conductive heat transport regime are incapable of suitably explaining either of these observations . A simple model incorporating heat transport by both conduction and fluid convection through the sediments fits the observations. A volume flux of (hydrothermal) fluid in the range of 10-6 to 10-5 cm3/sec/cm2 (0.1 liter/yr/cm2) is required. The sense of the flow for all measurements exhibiting non-linear gradients is upward out of the sediment column; no evidence for the recharging of the system was observed. Investigation of a well-defined boundary of the low zone at 4°N and 114°W showed a transition from low and variable heat flow to values compatible with thermal models that correlated with a change in the nature of the basement from rough to smooth. A few outcrops occur in the area of rough basement, but otherwise the region is well-sedimented (greater than 200 meters). Measurements within a detailed survey centered at this transition showed a dramatic increase in heat flow from 1.21 HFU to values greater than 3 HFU over a horizontal distance of 10km. A similar transition from non-linear to linear temperature gradients was not observed as nearly every measurement was non-linear. Heat flow measurements located in well-sedimented, outcrop-free areas (A environments) were associated with linear gradients and a heat flux greater than 1 HFU, however, several of these values were well below the theoretical heat flow for the appropriate age crust. Values measured in environments other than A exhibited variable heat flow and non-linear gradients. The average value of measurements located in A environments within the equatorial Pacific heat flow low was 1.37±0.27 HFU. The previously reported average was 0.92±0.48 HFU based on several measurements from L-DGO cruise VEMA 24-3. The average heat flow measured at a survey located outside the low heat flow zone on crust of 55 ±5 m.a. was 1.76 ±0.30 HFU which is in good agreement with the theoretical value of 1.60. The measurements in this survey were not located in A environments suggesting that crustal convection has ceased or is greatly attenuated within crust of this age. Error analysis of the geothermal data reduction using the convective/conductive heat transport model suggests that the volume flux parameter is sensitive to temperature measurement errors greater than a few millidegrees. Volume fluxes less than 10-7 cm/sec are difficult to distinguish from the purely conductive case assuming instrumental accuracies of 0.001°C. Resolution of the volume flux deteriorates as heat flow decreases and is poor for values less than 0.5 HFU. A detailed survey located within the low zone confirmed previous measurements of low heat flow, however, due to the low value of heat flow (about 0.5 HFU) the small-scale variability could not be clearly defined.","abstract_html":"The equatorial Pacific heat flow low, a major oceanic geothermal anomaly centered on the equatorial sediment bulge, was investigated using deeply penetrating heat flow probes (6-11 meters penetration) within three detailed surveys (400 km2) and along over 10,000 km of continuous seismic profiles (CSP). Previous heat flow measurements in this region defined a broad region characterized by a heat flux well below 1 HFU. We report 98 new measurements collected during cruises PLEIADES 3 and KNORR 73-4 that verify the anomalous nature of the heat flux and also define non-linear temperature gradients (concave down). Temperature field disturbances due to perturbations of a purely conductive heat transport regime are incapable of suitably explaining either of these observations . A simple model incorporating heat transport by both conduction and fluid convection through the sediments fits the observations. A volume flux of (hydrothermal) fluid in the range of 10-6 to 10-5 cm3/sec/cm2 (0.1 liter/yr/cm2) is required. The sense of the flow for all measurements exhibiting non-linear gradients is upward out of the sediment column; no evidence for the recharging of the system was observed. Investigation of a well-defined boundary of the low zone at 4°N and 114°W showed a transition from low and variable heat flow to values compatible with thermal models that correlated with a change in the nature of the basement from rough to smooth. A few outcrops occur in the area of rough basement, but otherwise the region is well-sedimented (greater than 200 meters). Measurements within a detailed survey centered at this transition showed a dramatic increase in heat flow from 1.21 HFU to values greater than 3 HFU over a horizontal distance of 10km. A similar transition from non-linear to linear temperature gradients was not observed as nearly every measurement was non-linear. Heat flow measurements located in well-sedimented, outcrop-free areas (A environments) were associated with linear gradients and a heat flux greater than 1 HFU, however, several of these values were well below the theoretical heat flow for the appropriate age crust. Values measured in environments other than A exhibited variable heat flow and non-linear gradients. The average value of measurements located in A environments within the equatorial Pacific heat flow low was 1.37±0.27 HFU. The previously reported average was 0.92±0.48 HFU based on several measurements from L-DGO cruise VEMA 24-3. The average heat flow measured at a survey located outside the low heat flow zone on crust of 55 ±5 m.a. was 1.76 ±0.30 HFU which is in good agreement with the theoretical value of 1.60. The measurements in this survey were not located in A environments suggesting that crustal convection has ceased or is greatly attenuated within crust of this age. Error analysis of the geothermal data reduction using the convective/conductive heat transport model suggests that the volume flux parameter is sensitive to temperature measurement errors greater than a few millidegrees. Volume fluxes less than 10-7 cm/sec are difficult to distinguish from the purely conductive case assuming instrumental accuracies of 0.001°C. Resolution of the volume flux deteriorates as heat flow decreases and is poor for values less than 0.5 HFU. A detailed survey located within the low zone confirmed previous measurements of low heat flow, however, due to the low value of heat flow (about 0.5 HFU) the small-scale variability could not be clearly defined.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Crowe, John"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1981,"date_issued":"1981-02","date_published":"1981-02","updated_at":"2026-07-27T22:05:04Z","subjects":["Geothermal resources","Heat budget","Ocean circulation","Ocean bottom","Marine geophysics","Pleides (Ship) Cruise 3","Knorr (Ship : 1970-) Cruise KN73-4"],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.1575/1912/3214"],"render_values":[{"text":"10.1575/1912/3214","href":"https://doi.org/10.1575/1912/3214","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1912/3214","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Crowe, John"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2010-03-24T14:59:48Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2010-03-24T14:59:48Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["1981-02"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Geothermal resources","Heat budget","Ocean circulation","Ocean bottom","Marine geophysics","Pleides (Ship) Cruise 3","Knorr (Ship : 1970-) Cruise KN73-4"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.1575/1912/3214"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1912/3214"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution February 1981"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The equatorial Pacific heat flow low, a major oceanic geothermal anomaly centered on the equatorial sediment bulge, was investigated using deeply penetrating heat flow probes (6-11 meters penetration) within three detailed surveys (400 km2) and along over 10,000 km of continuous seismic profiles (CSP). Previous heat flow measurements in this region defined a broad region characterized by a heat flux well below 1 HFU. We report 98 new measurements collected during cruises PLEIADES 3 and KNORR 73-4 that verify the anomalous nature of the heat flux and also define non-linear temperature gradients (concave down). Temperature field disturbances due to perturbations of a purely conductive heat transport regime are incapable of suitably explaining either of these observations . A simple model incorporating heat transport by both conduction and fluid convection through the sediments fits the observations. A volume flux of (hydrothermal) fluid in the range of 10-6 to 10-5 cm3/sec/cm2 (0.1 liter/yr/cm2) is required. The sense of the flow for all measurements exhibiting non-linear gradients is upward out of the sediment column; no evidence for the recharging of the system was observed. Investigation of a well-defined boundary of the low zone at 4°N and 114°W showed a transition from low and variable heat flow to values compatible with thermal models that correlated with a change in the nature of the basement from rough to smooth. A few outcrops occur in the area of rough basement, but otherwise the region is well-sedimented (greater than 200 meters). Measurements within a detailed survey centered at this transition showed a dramatic increase in heat flow from 1.21 HFU to values greater than 3 HFU over a horizontal distance of 10km. A similar transition from non-linear to linear temperature gradients was not observed as nearly every measurement was non-linear. Heat flow measurements located in well-sedimented, outcrop-free areas (A environments) were associated with linear gradients and a heat flux greater than 1 HFU, however, several of these values were well below the theoretical heat flow for the appropriate age crust. Values measured in environments other than A exhibited variable heat flow and non-linear gradients. The average value of measurements located in A environments within the equatorial Pacific heat flow low was 1.37±0.27 HFU. The previously reported average was 0.92±0.48 HFU based on several measurements from L-DGO cruise VEMA 24-3. The average heat flow measured at a survey located outside the low heat flow zone on crust of 55 ±5 m.a. was 1.76 ±0.30 HFU which is in good agreement with the theoretical value of 1.60. The measurements in this survey were not located in A environments suggesting that crustal convection has ceased or is greatly attenuated within crust of this age. Error analysis of the geothermal data reduction using the convective/conductive heat transport model suggests that the volume flux parameter is sensitive to temperature measurement errors greater than a few millidegrees. Volume fluxes less than 10-7 cm/sec are difficult to distinguish from the purely conductive case assuming instrumental accuracies of 0.001°C. Resolution of the volume flux deteriorates as heat flow decreases and is poor for values less than 0.5 HFU. A detailed survey located within the low zone confirmed previous measurements of low heat flow, however, due to the low value of heat flow (about 0.5 HFU) the small-scale variability could not be clearly defined."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Mechanisms of heat transport through the floor of the equatorial Pacific Ocean"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Crowe, John"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2010-03-24T14:59:48Z"],"dc:date.available":["2010-03-24T14:59:48Z"],"dc:date.issued":["1981-02"],"dc:description":["Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution February 1981"],"dc:description.abstract":["The equatorial Pacific heat flow low, a major oceanic geothermal anomaly centered on the equatorial sediment bulge, was investigated using deeply penetrating heat flow probes (6-11 meters penetration) within three detailed surveys (400 km2) and along over 10,000 km of continuous seismic profiles (CSP). Previous heat flow measurements in this region defined a broad region characterized by a heat flux well below 1 HFU. We report 98 new measurements collected during cruises PLEIADES 3 and KNORR 73-4 that verify the anomalous nature of the heat flux and also define non-linear temperature gradients (concave down). Temperature field disturbances due to perturbations of a purely conductive heat transport regime are incapable of suitably explaining either of these observations . A simple model incorporating heat transport by both conduction and fluid convection through the sediments fits the observations. A volume flux of (hydrothermal) fluid in the range of 10-6 to 10-5 cm3/sec/cm2 (0.1 liter/yr/cm2) is required. The sense of the flow for all measurements exhibiting non-linear gradients is upward out of the sediment column; no evidence for the recharging of the system was observed. Investigation of a well-defined boundary of the low zone at 4°N and 114°W showed a transition from low and variable heat flow to values compatible with thermal models that correlated with a change in the nature of the basement from rough to smooth. A few outcrops occur in the area of rough basement, but otherwise the region is well-sedimented (greater than 200 meters). Measurements within a detailed survey centered at this transition showed a dramatic increase in heat flow from 1.21 HFU to values greater than 3 HFU over a horizontal distance of 10km. A similar transition from non-linear to linear temperature gradients was not observed as nearly every measurement was non-linear. Heat flow measurements located in well-sedimented, outcrop-free areas (A environments) were associated with linear gradients and a heat flux greater than 1 HFU, however, several of these values were well below the theoretical heat flow for the appropriate age crust. Values measured in environments other than A exhibited variable heat flow and non-linear gradients. The average value of measurements located in A environments within the equatorial Pacific heat flow low was 1.37±0.27 HFU. The previously reported average was 0.92±0.48 HFU based on several measurements from L-DGO cruise VEMA 24-3. The average heat flow measured at a survey located outside the low heat flow zone on crust of 55 ±5 m.a. was 1.76 ±0.30 HFU which is in good agreement with the theoretical value of 1.60. The measurements in this survey were not located in A environments suggesting that crustal convection has ceased or is greatly attenuated within crust of this age. Error analysis of the geothermal data reduction using the convective/conductive heat transport model suggests that the volume flux parameter is sensitive to temperature measurement errors greater than a few millidegrees. Volume fluxes less than 10-7 cm/sec are difficult to distinguish from the purely conductive case assuming instrumental accuracies of 0.001°C. Resolution of the volume flux deteriorates as heat flow decreases and is poor for values less than 0.5 HFU. A detailed survey located within the low zone confirmed previous measurements of low heat flow, however, due to the low value of heat flow (about 0.5 HFU) the small-scale variability could not be clearly defined."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.doi":["10.1575/1912/3214"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1912/3214"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution"],"dc:subject":["Geothermal resources","Heat budget","Ocean circulation","Ocean bottom","Marine geophysics","Pleides (Ship) Cruise 3","Knorr (Ship : 1970-) Cruise KN73-4"],"dc:title":["Mechanisms of heat transport through the floor of the equatorial Pacific Ocean"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T22:05:04Z"}