The Global Thermal Rock Property Database (GTRPD) is the international reference database for thermal rock property data maintained by the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC). It is being developed as a long-term, quality-controlled and openly accessible resource for lithospheric thermal research, geothermal applications, and subsurface temperature modelling. It is a collaborative project between academia and industry that aims to support the process understanding of the Earth’s thermal field by providing authenticated thermal rock property data. The first version of the GTPDB is announced for 2028, with a foundation of collected data of the international geoscientific community produced ever since.

Scope

The Global Thermal Rock Property Database (GTRPD) will compile quality-controlled thermal rock property data together with the geological, petrophysical, methodological, and experimental metadata required for their transparent interpretation and reuse. Initial target properties include: thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific and volumetric heat capacity, radiogenic heat production and associated compositional information, and coefficient of thermal expansion.

Metadata will describe, where available, sample origin and geological context, lithology and composition, sampling depth, measurement method and instrument, specimen geometry and orientation, temperature and pressure conditions, saturation state, anisotropy, calibration, uncertainty, and data provenance. The database structure will distinguish original measurements from corrected, recalculated, aggregated, or model-derived values.

Global Thermal Property Compilation Project

The GTRPD is being developed through the Global Thermal Property Compilation Project, a voluntary and collaborative international community initiative coordinated by the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC). Scientists and institutions are invited to contribute existing datasets, published measurements, methodological expertise, literature screening, data extraction, independent review, and the development of common metadata and quality standards. The project follows the experience gained from the international assessment and revision of the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database: standardization of terminology, metadata, and quality criteria will precede large-scale compilation.

Learn more about the Global Thermal Property Compilation Project

International coordination

From 2026 to 2030, the international standardization and compilation activities are supported by ILP Task Force 2026-TF8 “Lithospheric Thermal Properties – Data Standardization and Compilation Project.” The Task Force supports the IHFC in coordinating the international community. The GTRPD itself is a long-term IHFC data product and is intended to be maintained and further developed beyond the duration of the ILP Task Force.

Learn more about ILP Task Force 2026-TF8

Data infrastructure

The GTRPD will be implemented within www.heatflow.world, the permanent research data infrastructure of the IHFC. The portal currently hosts the IHFC Global Heat Flow Database and provides the technical basis for long-term data management, quality control, submission, access, and dissemination. The integration of thermal rock property data will allow heat-flow observations and key controlling rock properties to be managed within a common research-data environment.

Development status and contributions

For current status, questions, expressions of interest, and opportunities to contribute, please visit the Global Thermal Property Compilation Project

| Keywords | crustal thermal properties database | petrophysical rock property compilation | thermal conductivity | radiogenic heat production | property distribution | global rock property data catalogue |

Support

Activities around the Global Thermal Property Database are supported by several academic and industrial supporters. A full overview of all supporters and contributors can be found here.