| The Global Heat Flow Database |

Overview

Data & Downloads

Data submission

Mapping

Literature

Revision 2020

Historical notes

Revision 2020

In 2020, the IHFC initiated a fundamental revision of the Global Heat-Flow Database. The process involves a multi-national collaborating project (learn more about the working group heat-flow database). Here, you will find the relevant updates on the project status.

Step 1: Relocation | completed (04/2020) |

In April 2020, the Global Heat Flow Database, that has been maintained by the IHFC custodian, Will Gosnold, for the last 20 years at the server of the University of North Dakota, was moved to the official website of the IHFC.

Step 2: A new heat flow data viewer | completed (12/2020) |

The first heat-flow data viewer was added to the IHFC website. More details will follow.

Step 3: Collaborative development of the new database structure | completed (04/2021)

Schedule: 05/2020 - 04/2021

The revision of the database structure was a collaborative work open to each scientist experienced with heat flow data. The new structure is the first concrete result of the database revision initiated last year,and replaces the long-serving structure of Jessop et al. (1975). The paper on the new database structure is currently in print for the next issue of IJTHFA (April 2021).

What can you do? If you want to join the process and if you are willing to put some work into the development of a new database structure, please contact us. Questions involved in this process are for example: what data are required to describe heat flow data sufficiently? What kind of meta-data is required for the development of a global heat-flow research data infrastructure? To address these questions efficiently, small thematic working groups will be set up focussing thermal properties (including heat production), temperature and temperature gradients, heat-flow determination, site-specific data, correction procedures, quality criteria, and other meta-data. A first initial online meeting was held in May 2020 to organize the on-going work in small thematic groups. Read the minutes for more information. Minutes for subsequent workshops can be find there as well.

Step 4: Update literature database in progress

Schedule: 04/2020 - 04/2021

The global heat-flow database contains nearly 1300 (actually much more) different references, which are usually given in short abbreviations and compact descriptions. The content of those entries shall be extended to their full bibliographic reference. This overview should build the basis for the upcomming reassessment of the heat flow data.

Work in progress (Start: 20 April 2020)

What can you do? Nothing else, the work is almost done. :)

Step 5: New database and adding data in progress

Schedule: 04/2020 - 03/2021

The IHFC has started to restrucutre and update the database accordingly to the new strucutre. During this process, given references are screened to identify missing data that will be added to the database.

Step 6: Reassessment of the global heat flow database

Schedule: Starting: summer 2021

Details related to the global reassessment will be announced soon.

Step 7: A new heat flow data portal

A first heat-flow data viewer was added. More details will follow.