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US4005289A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for identifying anomalous terrestrial heat flows

Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration ERDA
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Filing: 1976-01-05
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Granted: 1977-01-25
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Expires: 1996-01-05
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Abstract

Abstract A method for locating and mapping the magnitude and extent of terrestrial heat-flow anomalies from 5 to 50 times average with a tenfold improved sensitivity over orthodox applications of aerial temperature-sensing surveys as used for geothermal reconnaissance. The method remotely senses surface temperature anomalies such as occur from geothermal resources or oxidizing ore bodies by: measuring the spectral, spatial, statistical, thermal, and temporal features characterizing infrared radiation emitted by natural terrestrial surfaces; deriving from these measurements the true surface temperature with uncertainties as small as 0.05 to 0.5 K; removing effects related to natural temperature variations of topographic, hydrologic, or meteoric origin, the surface composition, detector noise, and atmospheric conditions; factoring out the ambient normal-surface temperature for non-thermally enhanced areas surveyed under otherwise identical environmental conditions; distinguishing significant residual temperature enhancements characteristic of anomalous heat flows and mapping the extent and magnitude of anomalous heat flows where they occur.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nancy Kerr Del Grande

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 06:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V8/00; G01V8/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 140 words
The method of locating and mapping the magnitude and extent of small anomalous terrestrial heat flows, comprising the steps of: a. detecting radiation emitted by areas of the Earth's surface; b. detecting at least two infrared bands where the spectral radiation is described by Planck's Radiation Law, at periodic intervals, as needed to characterize the spectral, spatial, thermal, temporal, and statistical radiation features of the terrestrial radiation; c. relating the ratio of at least two infrared bands to the true temperature of the surface terrain; d. determining the normal surface temperature for the ambient non-thermally modified terrain; e. locating and mapping areas where the true surface temperature is significantly different from the ambient normal-surface temperature; f. relating the statistically significant residual temperature difference to a heat flow anomaly; g. determining the magnitude and extent, and mapping the heat flow anamoly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 140 words
The method of locating and mapping the magnitude and extent of small anomalous terrestrial heat flows, comprising the steps of: a. detecting radiation emitted by areas of the Earth's surface; b. detecting at least two infrared bands where the spectral radiation is described by Planck's Radiation Law, at periodic intervals, as needed to characterize the spectral, spatial, thermal, temporal, and statistical radiation features of the terrestrial radiation; c. relating the ratio of at least two infrared bands to the true temperature of the surface terrain; d. determining the normal surface temperature for the ambient non-thermally modified terrain; e. locating and mapping areas where the true surface temperature is significantly different from the ambient normal-surface temperature; f. relating the statistically significant residual temperature difference to a heat flow anomaly; g. determining the magnitude and extent, and mapping the heat flow anamoly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly characterizes a geothermal resource area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly characterizes an oxiding ore body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly characterizes an unknown subterranean heat source, peculiar to the location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly characterizes a heat source, peculiar to the location, from man's environmental surroundings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly characterizes a heat source, peculiar to the location, associated with an anomalous atmospheric effect.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 51 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial heat flow anomaly is negative (i.e., the true surface temperature is significantly less than the normal surface temperature) and the area is characterized by a heat sink such as might occur in association with subsurface aquifers or conditions related to the hydrological regime.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3278746A Cited
US3373281A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-01-25 1980-07-26 1981-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-01-25 1984-07-26 1985-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-01-25 1988-07-26 1989-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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