The hunt for sources of geothermal energy is getting a boost from new observations of the Earth made from space.
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| The Goce satellite |
Information about variations in gravity across the planet could help prospectors find promising locations where sub-surface heat can be exploited to generate electricity.
The data comes from Europe's Goce satellite. It mapped Earth's gravity field from 2009 to 2013 at high resolution.
This keen sensing is now expected to narrow the search for prime spots to put future power stations.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has released the information in a special global atlas.
In parallel, Goce scientists have been discussing the work here at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, Austria.
