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Reply to comments by Henry N. Pollack and David S. Chapman on “Spherical harmonic analysis of Earth’s conductive heat flow”

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Abstract

Pollack and Chapman, hereafter referred to as P&C, argue that: (1) errors arising from lack of quality control in the IHFC database are not important and not properly documented, (2) resolution of spatial patterns in global heat flux distribution should not be represented by spherical harmonics and (3) heat flow in young oceanic crust and global heat loss are better represented by a contested 1-D cooling model than by the data. We disagree and provide additional information that may help clear up such misunderstandings. We also mention briefly the results of a new improved thermal model of the lithosphere that satisfactorily reproduces the main features identified in observational data sets of heat flow and ocean floor bathymetry. Thus, there is no reason to invoke the ad hoc hypothesis of large-scale hydrothermal circulation in the ocean crust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatório Nacional, MCT, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    V. M. Hamza, R. R. Cardoso & C. F. Ponte Neto

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  1. V. M. Hamza
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  2. R. R. Cardoso
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  3. C. F. Ponte Neto
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Correspondence to V. M. Hamza.

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Hamza, V.M., Cardoso, R.R. & Ponte Neto, C.F. Reply to comments by Henry N. Pollack and David S. Chapman on “Spherical harmonic analysis of Earth’s conductive heat flow”. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 97, 233–239 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-007-0256-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-007-0256-1

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