Science & Technology: Measuring the Seasonal Variability Of Geothermal Areas Associated With Hot Dry Rock Systems

Imaging Thermal Anomalies in Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Systems from Near-Surface Geophysical Modelling (MDPI)

By David Gomez-Ortiz, et al

Convective hydrothermal systems have been extensively studied using electrical and electromagnetic methods given the strong correlation between low conductivity anomalies associated with hydrothermal brines and high temperature areas.

However, studies addressing the application of similar geophysical methods to hot dry rock geothermal systems are very limited in the literature.

The Timanfaya volcanic area, located on Lanzarote Island (Canary Islands), comprises one of these hot dry rock systems, where ground temperatures ranging from 250 to 605 °C have been recorded in pyroclastic deposits at shallow (<70 m) depths.

We conclude that the combined use of ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction and magnetic methods constitutes a valuable tool to locate and study both the geometry at depth and seasonal variability of geothermal areas associated with hot dry rock systems.

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Gomez-Ortiz, D.; Blanco-Montenegro, I.; Arnoso, J.; Martin-Crespo, T.; Solla, M.; Montesinos, F.G.; Vélez, E.; Sánchez, N. Imaging Thermal Anomalies in Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Systems from Near-Surface Geophysical Modelling. Remote Sens. 2019, 11, 675. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11060675