Terrestrial heat flow in Japan

摘要: Terrestrial heat flow has been determined at 58 localities (39 on land and 19 in the sea) around Japanese Islands. The average values of observed sea are 1.55 × 10−6 1.30 cal/cm2 sec, respectively. out-standing features heat-flow distributions as follows: (a) Regions high (Q > 2.0 sec) exist Japan Sea side Honshu arc. (b) region seems to extend, through Fossa Magna area, down Izu-Marianne (c) It is probable that a similar zone exists inner Kurile (d) These zones precisely coincide with late Cenozoic tectogenesis (e) Low < 1.0 prevails Pacific coast northeastern oceanic areas directly east it. (f) outside these low within range normal values. Various hypothetical processes, such distribution radio-activity crust, upheaval denudation land, subterranean chemical reactions, thermal refraction, mantle convection, have examined order account for distribution. Owing uncertainty assumed quantities, it difficult determine which hypothesis should be selected.