Articles | Volume 6, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1131-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1131-2015
Research article
 | 
21 Oct 2015
Research article |  | 21 Oct 2015

The hydrothermal power of oceanic lithosphere

C. J. Grose and J. C. Afonso

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Short summary
Due to a thermal insulation effect of oceanic crust, the seafloor heat flux is predicted to be low over young lithosphere (compared to other cooling models). Consequently, the amount of heat extracted from oceanic lithosphere by ventilated hydrothermal circulation is predicted to be significantly lower than previous models. About 50% of total hydrothermal power is extracted on ridge axes.