Geothermal Energy in the Pacific Region

• Main Authors: Grose, L. T., Keller, G. V.
• Other Authors: COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES GOLDEN
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1975
• Subjects: Geology; Geochemistry and Mineralogy; Electric Power Production and Distribution; *MARINE GEOPHYSICS; *PACIFIC OCEAN ISLANDS; SOURCES; HIGH TEMPERATURE; JAPAN; HEATING; ELECTRIC POWER; MAPS; CALIFORNIA; PACIFIC OCEAN; REMOTE AREAS; HEAT FLUX; NAVAL SHORE FACILITIES; SEA WATER; OCEAN BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY; GEOCHEMISTRY; HAWAII; OCEAN BOTTOM; PHILIPPINES; NEW ZEALAND; GALAPAGOS ISLANDS; ALEUTIAN ISLANDS; GEOTHERMY; CENTRAL AMERICA; INDONESIA; GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING; GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION; VOLCANOES; HOT WATER; TECTONICS; HOT REGIONS; *GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; THERMAL SPRINGS; SPRINGS(WATER); SAMOA; ISLAND ARCS; FIJI ISLANDS; GUAM(ISLAND); KAMCHATKA PENINSULA; Adak; Galapagos; Kamchatka Peninsula; New Zealand; Pacific; Kamchatka; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADB006304; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADB006304

If geothermal energy at remote naval bases is available for space heating, electricity generation, and in the future for synthesis of high-energy fuel (hydrogen), the bases would be largely energy independent and would be alleviated of costly dependence on supply ships especially critical in times of international crises. This report is a first phase study of the Intra- and Circum-Pacific region for delineation of areas that appear to warrant exploration for geothermal energy sources which may be utilized by the United States Navy. Basic tectonic, volcanic, heat flow, and thermal spring data are plotted on regional Pacific guadrant maps at scale of 1:20,000,000. Areas most attractive for further geothermal investigations are manifest by tensional neotectonism, Pliocene-Quaternary volcanism, supernormal heat flow, and occurrence of high-temperature springs. The thermogeologic regime of basically similar simatic Pacific areas is reviewed for the Galapagos Islands, Hawaiian Islands, and Samoan Islands, and numerous small volcanic islands are selectively pointed out to have possibilities for geothermal development. In the island-arc environment Adak, Fiji Plateau, Guam, and the Philippines are briefly described. A note on possible occurrence of geo-pressured sections in the Circum-Pacific is included. See also Appendices A and B, ADB006305. Original contains color plates: All DDC reproductions will be in black and white.