Thermal convection of temperature-dependent viscous fluids within three-dimensional faulted geothermal systems: Estimation from linear and numerical analyses

What is it about?

• A new equation to calculate critical Rayleigh numbers in a 3D fault is given • The new expression accounts for temperature-dependent fluid viscosity • The stabilizing effects of increasing thermal conductivity ratio are included • Onset of geothermal convection in faults was previously underestimated

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Why is it important?

• important to estimate impacts of faults on hydro-thermal flow from regional to basin scale