Advective Heat Transport and the Salt Chimney Effect: A Numerical Analysis

Figure 9

Fluid (a) and heat flow (b) patterns in a model with three sealing layers, depth-dependent permeability, and a 60° dipping salt-sediment interface. The model was run with a basal heat flux of 63 mW m⁻². Advection dominates in the two upper reservoirs and conduction dominates in the basal reservoir, with advection beginning to affect the sediments adjacent to the salt in the middle reservoir. Dark gray arrows denote general flow directions, while small black arrows are simulated mass (a) or heat (b) flux vectors (scaled by magnitude).

(a)

(b)