The 3D conductive thermal field of the North Alpine Foreland Basin: influence of the deep structure and the adjacent European Alps

The origin of deep geothermal anomalies in the German Molasse Basin: results from 3D numerical models of coupled fluid flow and heat transport

“…The conductively modelled temperature trend shows that the thermal anomalies in the Molasse Basin are generated to some extent by the structural configuration of the crust and the presence of the Tauern Body in the Alps. Przybycin et al (2015b) propose an additional cooling influence of fluid flow in the sedimentary part of the basin as possible mechanism to explain the observed lower temperatures in the Molasse Basin, an effect already discussed for the Po Plain by Pasquale et al (2013).…”

“…By choosing a model extent which integrates a large part of the continental collision zone, Przybycin et al (2015b) investigated the interdependence of the basin with the mountain chain with respect to the thermal field. With their approach, they were able to reproduce the measured thermal field of the Molasse Basin, as shown by GeotIS (Agemar et al 2012) to a certain extent.…”

“…for the North German Basin by Noack et al (2013) and Scheck-Wenderoth et al (2014). In this approach, we combine the calculations of the 3D lithospheric-scale conductive thermal field by Przybycin et al (2015b) with coupled basin-scale simulations of the fluid and heat transport to predict the thermal field in the European Molasse Basin. For this, temperatures from depths dominated by conductive heat transport (e.g.…”

“…Different studies have been conducted in the past, based on different physical assumptions and modelling techniques, to understand the temperature and pressure field of the European Molasse Basin, of which Frisch and Huber (2000), Birner (2013), Agemar et al (2012), Przybycin et al (2015b), Rühaak (2009Rühaak ( , 2015, and Rühaak et al (2010) are just some examples. Frisch and Huber (2000) investigated the flow field of the Upper Jurassic Malm aquifer in the German part of the basin using hydraulic potential measurements and thermal water balancing to deduce the general flow direction.…”

“…Another conductive heat transport approach was followed by Przybycin et al (2015b), who used a lithospheric-scale 3D model covering the German Molasse Basin as well as the South German Scarpland to the north and parts of the Alps, including the Tauern Body to the south to calculate the present-day 3D thermal field. By choosing a model extent which integrates a large part of the continental collision zone, Przybycin et al (2015b) investigated the interdependence of the basin with the mountain chain with respect to the thermal field.…”