Heat flow in the continental area of China: a new data set

A new compilation of heat flow data for the continental area of China has been constructed using both published data (up to 1999) as well as previously unpublished data. The data set is composed of 862 observations from different sites. Within the continental area of China, heat flow values range from 23 to 319 mW/m2, with a mean of 63±24.2 mW/m2. If non-conductive values related to local hydrothermal systems are excluded, the representative average heat flow is 61±15.5 mW/m2 (n=823), with an associated range of 30–140 mW/m2. Heat flow analysis for each specific sub-tectonic province shows discernible trends within a tectonic province. The relationships between the heat flow and geological ages based on this new dataset indicate that surface heat flow is obviously more dependent on the last tectonothermal activity than the age of the orogeny. The overall heat flow pattern exhibits high values in the east and in the southwest, and low in the center and northwest parts of the continental area of China, and appears to be dominated largely by the Meso-Cenozoic tectonothermal evolution of the lithosphere. The Cenozoic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, and the subsequent thickening of the lithosphere; and the lithospheric thinning and volcano-magmatic activities during the Late Mesozoic in East China; can be seen clearly in the heat flow pattern.