Total heat flow

Total heat flow at surface model (2023) created by Geognostics with support from government and industry. This model is the sum of all heat-flow contributions (mantle heat flow, lower crustal heat flow, upper crustal radiogenic heat flow and sedimentary heat flow). This is modelled using a bottom up approach starting from the mantle and calculating upwards: Qtotal = Qmantle + Qlowercrust + Qupper crust + QSediments Basement composition and terranes dominate total heat flow, especially where sediment cover is thin. Where sediments are thick then these sediments mute the basement signatures. The total heat flow patterns closely follow upper crustal radiogenic heat production.