Heat Flow Mapping in Spain: A New Initiative

Abstract

Reliable estimates of terrestrial heat flow are essential for a wide range of Earth science applications, including geothermal resource assessment, crustal thermal modeling, and the study of past climate signals. In Spain, however, the available data remain scarce and show strong spatial heterogeneity,</p><p>with significant gaps in central regions. To address this limitation, we are developing a systematic heat flow measurement program by leveraging collaborations with existing projects that provide us with access to boreholes, to which we in turn contribute complementary and valuable data that support their specific objectives. We are equipped with a variety of instruments that allow us to obtain high-resolution heat flow measurements in very diverse geological contexts. The first results, obtained from nine piezometers in the La Mancha region as part of the Geo-TAG project, are very promising and mark the reactivation of direct heat flow data acquisition in Spain after more than two decades. This is the first step toward filling the existing gaps in the map and represents a significant contribution to improving the understanding of the thermal regime in Spain.