Compilation of terrestrial heat flow data in continental China (5th edition)

Terrestrial heat flow is the most integrated parameter in the thermal display of the Earth's internal heat energy at the surface. Heat flow data are not only a key supplement to seismic information, providing strong constraints on lithospheric thickness, geophysical properties and tectonic evolution, but also an important support for the selection and evaluation of geothermal resource targets. Measurement and compilation of terrestrial heat flow is a basic and key work in geothermics. In this paper, we collect 1096 published heat flow data and 75 measured data on the basis of 1166 published four versions of heat flow data in China. Meanwhile, this study updates the quality classification standard of China's heat flow data. According to the latest classification standard, among the 2337 heat flow data, the proportions of class A, B, C and D data are 35.4%, 40.9%, 18.7% and 5.0%, respectively. Excluding the data of categories C and D, the heat flow values range from 25.1 to 242.0 mW center dot m(-2), with an average value of 63 +/- 16 mW center dot m(-2); if the area of tectonic units and the quality of heat flow are taken into account, the weighted average of the terrestrial heat flow in China is 67 +/- 16 mW center dot m(-2). The analysis shows that the distribution of heat flow in China is characterized by the following features: very high in the southwestern part of the country and Taiwan (>= 75 mW center dot m(-2)), high in the eastern and north-central part of China (65 similar to 75 mW center dot m(-2)), low in the south-central (50 similar to 65 mW center dot m(-2)), and lowest in the northwestern part of the country (< 50 mW center dot m(-2)).