Abstract
HIGH-TEMPERATURE continental geothermal systems are primarily associated with volcanic activity at plate margins1. It has long been known that the activity of these geothermal systems is intermittent, and this is generally attributed to the effect of magmatic intrusions or fault motions. Recently, however, it has also been recognized2–4 that surface-water hydrology and climate variations can influence the evolution of individual silicic caldera-hosted geothermal systems, although it is difficult to judge the general importance of such effects in controlling the long-term behaviour of continental geothermal systems. Here we report uranium-series ages for the hydrothermal deposits of past geothermal activity from several Quaternary volcanic centres in the northern Kenya rift valley. We find that the ages correspond well to periods of high lake level within the rift, suggesting that the elevated water table and increased availability of meteoric water associated with more humid climates can promote greater transfer of heat and mass from deep, long-lived heat sources to the surface.
Access this article
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ellis, A. J. & Mahon, W. A. J. Chemistry and Geothermal Systems (Academic, New York, 1977).
Goff, F. & Shevenell, L. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 99, 292–302 (1987).
Bargar, K. E. & Fournier, R. O. Geology 16, 1077–1080 (1988).
Sturchio, N. C., Murrell, M. T., Pierce, K. L. & Sorey, M. L. in Water-Rock Interaction Vol. 2 (eds Kharaka, Y. K. & Maest, A. S.) 1427–1430 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1992).
Allen, D. J. & Darling, W. G. British Geological Survey Res. Rep. SD/92/1 (1992).
Darling, W. G. & Talbot, J. C. British Geological Survey Tech. Rep. WD/91/72 (1991).
Darling, W. G. & Talbot, J. C. in Water-Rock Interaction Vol. 2 (eds Kharaka, Y. K. & Maest, A. S.) 1441–1444 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1992).
Truckle, P. H. Nature 263, 380–383 (1976).
Butzer, K. W., Isaac, G. L., Richardson, J. L. & Washbourn-Kamav, C. Science 175, 1069–1076 (1972).
Tiercelin, J.-J. & Vincens, A. Bull. Centres Rech. Explor.-Prod. Elf-Aquitaine 11, 249–540 (1987).
Hillaire-Marcel, C., Carro, O. & Casanova, J. Quat. Res. 25, 312–329 (1986).
Street, F. A. & Grove, A. T. Nature 261, 385–390 (1976).
Casanova, J. thesis, Univ. Aix-Marseille (1986).
Street, F. A. & Grove, A. T. Quat. Res. 12, 83–118 (1979).
Butzer, K. W., Brown, F. W. & Thurber, D. L. Quaternaria 11, 15–29 (1969).
Gaven, C., Hillaire-Marcel, C. & Petit-Marie, N. Nature 290, 131–133 (1981).
Causse, C. et al. Geology 17, 922–925 (1989).
Sturchio, N. C. & Binz, C. M. J. geophys. Res. 93, 6097–6102 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sturchio, N., Dunkley, P. & Smith, M. Climate-driven variations in geothermal activity in the northern Kenya rift valley. Nature 362, 233–234 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362233a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/362233a0
- Springer Nature Limited