Interactive software for processing, compilation, and interpretation of seafloor heat-flow data, including analysis of measurement uncertainties

Abstract

We present software for processing and interpretation of marine heat-flow data. These data commonly include in situ measurements of the thermal gradient and thermal conductivity as a function of subseafloor depth, and are used to calculate vertical heat flow. New software includes SlugPen, for parsing and correcting datasets for each penetration, and SlugHeat, for calculating equilibrium temperatures ($T_{\mathrm{eq}}$) and in situ thermal conductivity (k) with depth, and using these values to calculate heat flow and uncertainty metrics. SlugHeat is based on an established approach that solves iteratively for $T_{\mathrm{eq}}$ and k and introduces several new tools and a graphical user interface to help identify and resolve data issues and improve interpretation of results. Notably, SlugHeat incorporates multiple options for determining the uncertainty of calculated heat-flow values, including a Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis of layer properties. Results from reprocessing heat-flow data from earlier marine surveys show the benefits of SlugHeat's flexibility and interactivity for managing and interpreting data from multiple settings. We find that incorporating ambiguity in the thickness and thermal conductivity of individual sediment layers significantly increases the uncertainty in heat flow measurements; the statistical fit of observations to a linear model, as has been historically relied on to define heat-flow uncertainty, tends to understate this value. Assessment of data quality and testing reduction options requires making thoughtful decisions, aided using an interactive interface, and is therefore not fully automated. SlugPen and SlugHeat are accessible for public use with documentation and source code that is readily adaptable to include alternative processing algorithms.