The global variation of terrestrial heat flow

摘要: Over 900 measurements of surface heat flow have been analyzed in order to obtain the continent-ocean averages and a contour representation. An orthogonal function representation 757 values yields global mean 63.9±3.4 erg cm−2 sec−1 (1.53 μ cal sec−1). The average over continents is 68.9 (1.65 μcal cal−2 sec−1) oceanic aver-age 62.0 (1.48 difference between oceans not significant at 95 per cent confidence level. flows shows certain similarities geoid. correlation sense that where gravity high low, vice versa. This consistent with expected from convection motions upper mantle. magnitude calculation for extending depth 1000 km vertical velocity 15 cm year−1 required explain associated mass heat-flow anomalies.