| Recent news | Older news: 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 |
Apr 17, 2024
Global Heat Flow Database: Release 2024 - Out now!
The latest update of the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database is available online now. The presented data release 2024 contains data generated between 1939 and 2024 and constitutes the second intermediate update benefiting from the global collaborative assessment and quality control of the Global Heat Flow Database running since May 2021.
Feb 01, 2024
Join the EGU 2024 Heat Flow Spring
How do we transform global heat-flow science? Do you want to learn more about the latest data available to support your heat flow and geothermal research?
Please join us for the Heat Flow Spring at EGU 2024 in Vienna (heatflow.world/heatflowspring2024)! Three splinter meetings, on 17, 18, and 19 April (always 2-6 pm, room 2.61), will present the new global heat flow research data infrastructure (World Heat Flow Database Project), the heat flow task force of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP), and an ambitious proposal for standardizing and enhancing the availability of marine heat-flow data. All three meetings are open to everyone. Join the live release of the 2024 database update of the Global Heat Flow Database. For questions or registration, please write to us at heatflow@ihfc-iugg.org. We look forward to seeing you in April, in Vienna or online!
Feb 01, 2024
Join the 2nd Global Heat Flow Day on Feb 22, 2024!
On Feb 23, 2023, we provide a 24-hour virtual live #support session to help researchers get into the assessment of the global heat flow database Learn about the necessary information to include your data into the global database. Discuss the crucial aspects of modern heat flow data and learn how to transform legacy data for the new database. Join our community action to make a difference for geoscientists around the world who rely on reliable high-quality research data. Meeting link
July 20, 2023
New IHFC members and officers elected for the term 2023-2027
At the 28th General Assembly of the IUGG in Berlin, Germany, 22 new IHFC members of the current term (2023-2027) have been elected. In addition to the past chair, four of them are elected as officers representing the IHFC Bureau.
Current members: Irina Atemieva, Graeme Beardsmore, Paolo Chiozzi, Petr Dedecek, Sven Fuchs, Gianluca Gola, Jiang Guangzheng, Suze Pereira Guimaraes, Robert Harris, Youngmin Lee, Shaowen Liu, Mareen Lösing,
Raquel Negrete-Aranda, Florian Neumann, Ben Norden, Elif Parzvantoglu, Nagarju Podugu, Jeffrey Poort, Tobias Stal, Akiko Tanaka, Yibo Wang and Massimo Verdoya (past chair).
Group photo of the new members of the International Heat Flow Commission after the election on 17th of July 2023.
The new chairwoman Raquel Negrete-Aranda (Cicese, Mexiko) in first row, second person from left. (Photo: Ronald Spelz)
July 15, 2023
Just released!
Based on a community-driven approach, a new standard for reporting heat-flow values and their metadata was set up and published in Tectonophysics.
Abstract
Since 1963, the International Heat Flow Commission has been fostering the compilation of the Global Heat Flow Database to provide reliable heat-flow data. Over time, techniques and methodologies evolved, calling for a reorganization of the database structure and for a reassessment of stored heat-flow data. Here, we provide the results of a collaborative, community-driven approach to set-up a new, quality-approved global heat-flow database. We present background information on how heat-flow is determined and how this important thermal parameter could be systematically evaluated. The latter requires appropriate documentation of metadata to allow the application of a consistent evaluation scheme. The knowledge of basic data (name and coordinates of the site, depth range of temperature measurements, etc.), details on temperature and thermal-conductivity data and possible perturbing effects need to be given. The proposed heat-flow quality evaluation scheme can discriminate between different quality aspects affecting heat flow: numerical uncertainties, methodological uncertainties, and environmental effects. The resulting quality codes allow the evaluation of every stored heat-flow data entry. If mandatory basic data are missing, the entry is marked accordingly. In cases where more than one heat-flow determination is presented for one specific site, and all of them are considered for the site, the poorest evaluation score is inherited to the site level. The required data and the proposed scheme are presented in this paper. Due to the requirements of the newly developed evaluation scheme, the database structure as presented in 2021 has been updated and is available in the appendix of this paper. The new quality scheme will allow a comprehensible evaluation of the stored heat-flow data for the first time.
Feb 15, 2023
Global Heat Flow Database: Release 2023 - Out now!
The latest update of the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database is available online now. The presented data update 2023 contains data generated between 1939 and 2022 and constitutes the first intermediate update benefiting from the global collaborative assessment and quality control of the Global Heat Flow Database running since May 2021.
Feb 01, 2023
Join the 2nd Global Heat Flow Day on Feb 23, 2023!
On Feb 23, 2023, we provide a 24hrs virtual live #support session to help researchers get into the assessment of the global heat flow database Learn about the necessary information to include your data into the global database. Discuss the crucial aspects of modern heat flow data and learn how to transform legacy data for the new database. Join our community action to make a difference for geoscientists around the world who rely on reliable high-quality research data. Meeting link
December 24, 2022
Heat-flow special issue in Tectonophysics
A special issue of Tectonophysics entitled "Advances in Heat Flow Studies and Thermal Structure of the
Lithosphere" is under preparation.
The special issue intends to collect papers embracing the topics recently presented at the "7th International Meeting on Heat Flow and the Thermal Structure” held in Potsdam, Germany, in 2022, together with original contributions highlighting the advances in heat-flow studies and their role in understanding a wide range of Earth processes obtained during the sixty years-long activity of IHFC.
Guest editors of the SI will be: Graeme Beardsmore, Rob Harris and Massimo Verdoya
Please notice the following deadlines:
- The date the submission portal should be open and available since 20/11/2022
- The submission portal will be closed on 12/02/2023
- The date by which all manuscripts should be fully reviewed, and all final decisions will be made by 14/05/2023
December 18, 2022
IUGG 2023 - IHFC (1963-2023) Symposium
Until the 1950s, terrestrial heat flow was only documented in a few specific areas of the globe. Due to the importance of heat flow determinations in characterizing the Earth’s energy budget, geodynamic processes, and its role in geothermal energy exploration, the need for extensive heat-flow measurements and mapping became clear. Since 1963, the International Heat Flow Commission of IASPEI has been advising on the acquisition of heat-flow data through temperature-depth measurements and thermal properties of rocks in a variety of geologic environments and tectonic regimes. This effort has led to significant advances in heat flow studies that have positively influenced many disciplines, e.g. seismology, magnetism, volcanology, geodynamics, and hydrogeology. It is now widely recognized that understanding the mechanisms of heat transfer in continental and oceanic regions is crucial for better appreciation of the thermal structure of the lithosphere. For example, the depth distribution of earthquakes can be related to the brittle-ductile boundary which is thermally controlled. In polar regions heat flow can exert a key influence on ice-sheet temperature, ice rheology, basal melting, and the consequent mechanical decoupling at the ice-bedrock interface. Other contemporary topics that thermal studies address include climate change, permafrost thawing, and mineral resource evaluation. This symposium marks the 60th anniversary of the International Heat Flow Commission with the goal of highlighting the accomplishments of heat-flow studies, as well as the technological advances in borehole and rock thermo-physical measurements, and their relationship to a wide range of geodynamic processes related to the thermal state. We welcome contributions that describe the results of experimental and theoretical works of any geoscientific discipline and the symposium is designed to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, methods, and concepts centered on the thermal aspects of the Earth’s interior.
Symposium: JS08 Advances in Heat Flow Studies: From Fundamental Geodynamic Understanding to Geothermal Energy Applications (IASPEI, IAVCEI (IHFC))
Conveners: Ben Norden (Germany, IAVCEI), Ivone Jimenez Munt (Spain, IASPEI), Sukanta Roy (India, IASPEI)
Deadline abstract submission: 14 February 2023;
June 22, 2022
International heat flow conference and workshop in Potsdam
Hosted by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, the “7th International Meeting on Heat Flow and the Thermal Structure of the Lithosphere” (the Cermak7 Meeting) was held in Potsdam from 20th to 22th June. Two years after a first attempt to host the conference was canceled due to the beginning of the corona pandemic, the meeting now provided a unique opportunity for researchers, students, and industry experts from across the world to meet in person and discuss recent results and developments in heat-flow determination and interpretation, experimental petrophysics, geothermal exploration, and lithosphere studies. For understanding thermal transport processes in these research fields, heat flow is an essential parameter. More than 60 researchers from 19 countries attended the meeting, which is the largest specialist conference on heat-flow techniques, data and its interpretation. After the two-day conference, a one-day workshop for the revision of the global heat-flow database was held. A major achievement of the workshop was the finalization of a quality scheme for the tens of thousands of data incorporated in the global heat-flow database. The in-person workshop relied on a series of collaborative online workshops that started in November 2021.
For more details: http://cermak7.ihfc-iugg.org.
June 08, 2022
Digital workshop on heat-flow quality scheme - part 5
Beginning of June, we had our fifth online session in the frame of our workshop series on the development of a quality evaluation scheme/process/workflow for heat-flow data and the IHFC database. We discussed details of marine probe sensing data for a quality scheme and agreed on specifications.
Minutes: PDF
Recording: Youtube
The fifth workshop will be held beginning of June and will be focused on the specifications of marine probe-sensing data for the heat flow quality evaluation.
April 29, 2022
Digital workshop on heat-flow quality scheme - part 4
In April, we had our fourth online session in the frame of our workshop series on the development of a quality evaluation scheme/process/workflow for heat-flow data and the IHFC database. We discussed details to the relevant tempertaure information for a quality scheme and agreed on specifications.
Minutes: PDF
Recording: Youtube
The fifth workshop will be held beginning of June and will be focused on the specifications of marine probe-sensing data for the heat flow quality evaluation.
March 22, 2022
Digital workshop on heat-flow quality scheme - part 3
Last week, we had our third online session in the frame of our workshop series on the development of a quality evaluation scheme/process/workflow for heat-flow data and the IHFC database. We discussed details to the relevant conductivity information for a quality scheme and agreed on specifications.
Minutes: PDF
Recording: Youtube
The fourth workshop at the end of April will be on the contribution of temperature related information on the heat flow quality evaluation. For those interested in participation, we kindly ask you to attend the poll for finding a suitable date until end of this week. Find a date for workshop 4: doodle.
Feb 11, 2022
Join the 24hrs Global Heat Flow Day on 22 Feb 2022!
On 22 Feb 2022, we provide a 24hrs around the globe virtual live #support session to help researchers get into the assessment of the global heat flow database Learn about the new data structure and get introduced to convert your heat flow research data towards the new database requirements. Join our community action to make a difference for geoscientists around the world who rely on reliable high-quality research data. Meeting link
January 26, 2022
Cermak7 - call for abstracts
We are pleased to inform you about the opening of registration, abstract submission and hotel booking. Details to the 2nd circular and call for abstracts can be found in the attached pdf.
Meeting: 7th International Meeting on Heat Flow and the Thermal Structure of the Lithosphere Date: June 20-22, 2022 Venue: Potsdam, Germany (Seminaris SeeHotel). Homepage: cermak7.ihfc-iugg.org- Registration open
- Abstract submission (after registration completed)
- Booking a room at conference venue
Surrounded by forests and lakes and rich in historical castles and cultural attractions, Potsdam is looking forward to welcoming you to the Cermak7 meeting in June 2022!
The local organizing committee,
Sven Fuchs, Ben Norden, Angela Spalek
December 07, 2021
Heat-flow Postdoc position open at GFZ Potsdam (Germany)
The GFZ Potsdam (Germany) is offering a fully funded Postdoc position, with a duration of three years (2022-2025). The position is open to worldwide scientists to work on the revision of the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database by reassessing and revising those data and by assisting in the technical coordination and information exchange with the global heat flow community. The research work will be within the frame of the ongoing activities of the IHFC and will be also in synergy with the Task Force VIII "Lithospheric Heat Flow – Global Data Assessment Project" of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP).
Information about application requirements, admission procedures can be found here.
The deadline for application is January 16, 2022.
November 03, 2021
Digital kick-off workshop
To initialize the collaborative development of a quality scheme for heat-flow data, a digital kick-off workshop was held end of October. See the mintutes for details
The first workshop will be on the contribution of thermal conductivity on the heat flow quality. For those interested in participation, we kindly ask you to attend the poll for finding a suitable date until end of this week. Find a date for workshop 1: doodle.
October 01, 2021
Workshop invitation - IHFC Global Heat Flow Database
After redefining the database structure and starting the assessment process itself, a new globally applicable quality scheme represents the third major step of the revision process of the global heat-flow database. We think that this step represents a large challenge but is also mandatory being able to provide an authenticated global heat flow database.
Therefore, we are happy to announce a zoom kick-off meeting “Defining a quality evaluation scheme/process for the global heat-flow database” to take place at the 25th, 27th or 28th of October. The objectives of this meeting are to discuss and to agree on the working procedure for the development of the new quality scheme for the global heat flow database. As in the structure workshop last year, we suggest again to establishing small topic-related working groups in this kick-off meeting to develop recommendations during the next 6 months. Possible subtopics could be method qualification, uncertainty quantification, and external effects.
We kindly invite you to join this process and to bring all your expertise into this project! Please register for the kick-off meeting until 15th October 2021 in time. Based on your registration we will adjust and announce the most appropriate time of the meeting. An agenda will be provided beforehand.
Invitation: Kick-off meeting “Defining a quality evaluation scheme/process for the global heat-flow database”
Type: 75 min. zoom meeting at 1 pm UTC
Registration: doodle a date.
October 01, 2021
Minutes (Hyderabad, India) online
The minutes of the IHFC business meeting, held at IASPEI-IAGA Joint Scientific Assembly in Hyderabad, India, are online. Jump to the minutes and reports.
Jan 27, 2021
Heat flow symposium scheduled at 2021 IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly
The Symposium # S24 "Towards 60 years of activity of the International Heat Flow Commission" is scheduled for August 25 2021 at the IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly in Hyderabad, India.
Oral session 1 (16:45-18:45 Ind ST; 13:15-15:15 CEST), Chair: Yuri Popov (RU) and Labani Ray (IN)
IHFC midterm business meeting (16:45-18:45 Ind ST; 13:15-15:15 CEST)
Oral session 2 (20:15-22:15 Ind ST; 16:45-18:45 CEST), Chair: Sukanta Roy (IN) and Sven Fuchs (DE)
Program details | Talks
Meeting homepage: http://iaga-iaspei-india2021.in
May 28, 2021
Heat-flow PhD position open at University of Genoa (Italy)
The University of Genoa (Italy) is offering a fully funded PhD position, with a duration of three years (2021-2024). The position is open to worldwide students who are willing to take part in the PhD degree program at the school Science and Technologies for the Earth and Environment (STET) of the Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV). The proposed PhD topic (N.7 GEO) is focused on terrestrial heat flow studies, with special reference to the Mediterranean Region. Details on the research topic can be found here. The research work will be within the frame of the ongoing activities of the IHFC and will be also in synergy with the Task Force VIII "Lithospheric Heat Flow – Global Data Assessment Project" of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP).
Information about application requirements, admission procedures can be found here.
The deadline for application is June 15, 2021 at 12 PM, CEST.
May 18, 2021
Global Heat Flow Data Assessment Project: Starts Now
We are proud to announce the Global Heat Flow Data Assessment Project, a five-year project to scrutinize, reassess and recompile the Global Heat Flow Database. The project is joint-coordinated by the IHFC and a Task Force of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP). The project directly tackles a long-standing challenge of providing a quality-assured and authenticated Global Heat Flow Database and is kick-started by 66 scientists from 22 countries. We kindly invite you to join our efforts for the benefit of the global geothermal and lithospheric research community.
Check out the project website
April 20, 2021
Global Heat Flow Database: Release 2021 online
The IHFC has published the 2021 data release of the Global Heat Flow Database. Find all files and the data description in the data/download section
April 15, 2021
2021 IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly - Extended submission deadline!
The submission deadline for 2021 IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly was extended to 30th of April. The extension counts also for your submission to the IHFC sponsored symposium S24 "Towards 60 years of activity of the International Heat Flow Commission" Meeting homepage: http://iaga-iaspei-india2021.in
April 13, 2021
New definition of the Global Heat flow Database online
In May 2020, a series of online workshops was initiated by the IHFC to discuss the recent demands on the structure of the Global Heat Flow Database. Now, as a first results of this truly international collaborative work, a new paper was published containing a new data description that substitutes the long-established definition from Jessop et al. (1976).
Find the new publication here. Read also the comment of Alan Jessop on this approach in his preface to the 2021 ijthfa volume. Please, consider the new structure for any data upload of new heat-flow data to the GHFDB.
Fuchs, Sven; Beardsmore, Graeme; Chiozzi, Paolo; Espinoza-Ojeda, Orlando Miguel; Gola, Gianluca; Gosnold, Will; Harris, Robert; Jennings, Sam; Liu, Shaowen; Negrete-Aranda, Raquel; Neumann, Florian; Norden, Ben, Poort, Jeffrey; Rajver, Dušan; Ray, Labani; Richards, Maria; Smith, Jared; Tanaka, Akiko; Verdoya, Massimo (2021): A new database structure for the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database. International Journal of Terrestrial Heat Flow and Applied Geothermics 4(1), 14p. doi: 10.31214/ijthfa.v4i1.62.
April 01, 2021
IJTHFA - 2021 issue online
The 2021 issue of the International Journal of Terrestrial Heat Flow and Applied Geothermics has been published.
Learn more about the IJTHFA or jump to the journal page.
February 01, 2021
IHFC outreach - IASPEI newsletter online
The February newsletter of the IASPEI containing a short report of the recent IHFC activities is out now.
Find the newsletter page or download directly.
February 11, 2021
Obituary Alan Edward Beck
In memoriam Dr. Alan Edward Beck (1928-2020)
Alan Beck (to the right) in 1995? in Rio de Janeiro; together with Seiya Uyeda, Valiya Hamza, and Vladimír Čermák (from left to right); picture credits: unknown
"All my colleagues Jan Safanda, Milan Kresl, Petr Dedecek as well as myself are deeply grieved to learn of the death of Professor Alan E. Beck. We all want to express our deepest sympathy to the family and to many of his colleagues, former students and friends.
It is more than 50 years since I first met Alan when I came to Canada to spend my two years as the PDF in that time Dominion Observatory in Ottawa. Alan served as the Professor in Geophysics at the University of Western Ontario, London, and we had good chances to meet each other. We quickly established a really firm friendly relation and I benefited very much from his practical advices how to organize laboratory work.
Earth Sciences the early sixties presented an incredible progress in geothermics. In 1963 the International Heat Flow Committee (today known as Commission, IHFC) was established at the 13th IUGG General Assembly in Berkeley. Only two years later a comprehensive volume “Terrestrial Heat Flow” (edited by WHK Lee) appeared summarizing the results and basic principles of heat flow investigations. With no exaggeration this book can be still considered as certain “Heat Flow Bible”. Alan Beck contributed by one of its chapter “ Techniques of measuring heat flow on land”. Here he introduced his “Divide-Bar apparatus”, which become a useful tool for laboratory thermal conductivity measurements. I am sure that even today some laboratories are still using this instrument as an alternative method. In this sense Alan was a real pioneer of the thermal conductivity measurements.
Alan E. Beck was the 4th Chairman of the IHFC (1979-1983) and I had pleasure to work with him as the IHFC vice-secretary. Memorably days. One of the Alan´s merit was the fact that he proposed and elaborated the IHFC Bylaws, which with only some slight changes or additions are fully applicable today. During 50 years of our friendship and scientific cooperation we were meeting frequently attending and co-organizing various international conferences and symposia all over the world. Alan participated in the preparation of the 1987 Vancouver 19th IUGG General Assembly and was the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the 1981 London 17th IASPEI Assembly. Alan also visited my country attended some of our six famous “Heat Flow Castle meetings” which I organized in Czechoslovakia/Check Republic between 1982 and 2006. I am extremely sorry that Alan due to his health problems could not attend the last 2019 IUGG General Assembly in Montreal. I was looking very much to meet him there.
Professor Alan E. Beck will be long remembered by us in the Geophysical Institute in Prague as well as by all IHFC members as one who devoted his life career to geophysics and to the service of the International Heat Flow Commission of the IASPEI. I shall always regard it as a great honor and privilege to have known him personally."
Prague, February 2020
Vladimir Cermak
Jan 27, 2021
2021 IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly - Symposium # S24 "Towards 60 years of activity of the International Heat Flow Commission"
The 2021 IAGA-IASPEI Joint Scientific Assembly will be held as a virtual conference (August 21-27, 2021). The IHFC sponsors the symposium entitled "Towards 60 years of activity of the International Heat Flow Commission" as Symposium S24. It has been designed to highlight the accomplishments of heat-flow studies and their role in understanding a wide range of Earth processes. The contributions to the symposium will include critical reviews identifying key-knowledge gaps as well as recent work in all aspects of geothermal investigations. It provides also a good opportunity to promote the contributions of IHFC to IASPEI themes.
The IHFC asks you to consider submitting multiple abstracts to this Symposia and encourage colleagues in related fields to support the Symposia S24. The relevant information are given below.
Conveners: Sukanta Roy (India), Robert N. Harris (USA), Sven Fuchs (Germany), Massimo Verdoya (Italy)
Abstract submission deadline: April 15, 2021
Early bird registration: June 30, 2021
Meeting homepage: http://iaga-iaspei-india2021.in
Dec 31, 2020
A new heat flow data viewer released
A viewer for the data of the global heat flow database has been launched today. Discover the IHFC database through our new interactive map.
Oct 06, 2020
Digital discussion workshop - Structure of the Global Heat Flow Database
After three months of intensive work in small thematic groups, the workshop members met for an intense discussion on the preliminary results. For more details and the further steps, see the minutes
May 14, 2020
Digital kick-off workshop
To initialize the collaborative design of a new heat-flow database structure, a digital kick-off workshop was held today. 23 participants are now working in small thematic groups to develop the new structure. See the mintutes
March 30, 2020
IJTHFA - 2020 issue online
The 2020 issue of the International Journal of Terrestrial Heat Flow and Applied Geothermics has been published.
Learn more about the IJTHFA or jump to the journal page.
March 20, 2020
Cermak7 - postponed
Due to the global development of the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to cancel the Cermak7 Meeting in 2020 and postpone it until May next year further notice. For more details, please check the 2020 conference page.
February 19, 2020
Heat flow Questionnaire
Beginning with the new term of the International Heat Flow Commission last summer, the IHFC decided at the IUGG in Montreal (minutes) to reorganize and relaunch the International Heat Flow Database. An essential part of it will be the restructuring and revision of the database and the development of a new heat-flow research data information system. Truly, this is ambiguous.
We think it is best to develop the functionality of the IHFC heat-flow data portal along the scientific needs of our community.
Please, share your past experience with the database and inform us on your requirements on a heat-flow data portal. Please let us know in particular about features, functionality and/or services that would be helpful for your work. With spending 5 minutes of your time, you can help us to get an overview of the demands and expectations.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part in this process.
Please give us your feedback in the online questionnaire (surveymonkey).
We will summarize the results here at the IHFC website and during the Cermak7 meeting, where the collaborative revision of the available data will be initiated in a special workshop (http://cermak7.ihfc-iugg.org). If you wish to share your ideas prior to this event you are very welcome to give us a notice on that.
Update: Check out the results
Jump to: the working group: heat-flow database | the global heat-flow database
February 14, 2020
Cermak7 - abstract deadline in 2 weeks
The abstract submission for the Cermak7 meeting closes in two weeks from now (01 March 2020). You are cordially invited to register for the meeting and to submit abstracts.
Jump to the Cermak7 conference page.
January 17, 2020
Heat-flow special issue in Journal of Geodynamics planned
The IHFC is glad to announce a special issue in the Journal of Geodynamics (JoG, IF: 2.8) for the major scientific results of the upcoming Cermak7 meeting (Germany, May 2020). All papers will be subject to the high standard of peer review and contributions in relation to the C7 topics are welcome. More details.