M. Lardy et A. Tabbagh, Measuring and interpreting heat fluxes from shallow volcanic bodies using vertical temperature profiles: a preliminary test, B VOLCANOL, 60(6), 1999, pp. 441-447
To test the potential of heat flux prospecting in active volcanic areas usi
ng shallow temperature data taken along vertical profiles, we carried out t
wo thermal profile surveys, one not far from Yasur cone on Tanna Island, an
d another inside the caldera of Ambrym (New Hebrides are, southwestern Paci
fic). The basic steady heat flux of internal volcanic origin was determined
, taking into account both conductive and convective heat transfers. At bot
h locations there exists, over small distances, significant differences in
the heat flux. These differences correspond to shallow sources of heat. The
use of a network of vertical profiles allowed: (a) heat flux mapping; (b)
location of shallow volcanic heat sources; and (c) observation of the detai
led structure of the heat release at quiescent but active volcanoes.