The outflow of heat from the earth's interior, the terrestrial heat flow, and the temperature field at depth are determined by deep-seated tectonic processes. The knowledge of the re gional heat flow pattern is thus very important in geophysics and provides a useful tool for studying crustal and litho spheric structure and understanding the nature of their evo lution. In order to use the results of heat flow measurements for regional studies and/or to correlate the observed surface geothermal activity with other geophysical or geological fea tures, a map showing the surface distribution of heat flow is necessary. Since 1963, when the first comprehensive listing of all available heat flow data appeared (Lee, 1963), several at tempts have been made to up-date the list, to classify all the data and to interpret them with respect to tectonics, deep structure and to use them for constructing surface heat flow maps. The first listing was subsequently revised by Lee and Uyeda (1965); numerous new data which were published there after were included in successive catalogs compiled by Simmons and Horai (1968) and then again by Jessop et al. (1976). The map showing the surface heat flow pattern may also be of great value for practical purposes, in view of the recent world-wide search for applicable sources of geothermal energy.

There comes a time in the affairs of every organization when we have to sit down and take stock of where we are and where we want to go. When the International Heat Flow Committee (as it was first called), IHFC, was formed in 1963 at the San Francisco International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics with Francis Birch as its first Chairman, the principal purpose was to stimulate work in the basic aspects of geothermics, particularly the measurement of terrestrial heat-flow density (HFD) in what were then the 'geothermally underdeveloped' areas of the world. In this, the IHFC was remarkably successful. By the beginning of the second decade of our existence, interest in the economic aspects of geothermics was increasing at a rapid pace and the IHFC served as a conduit for all aspects of geothermics and, moreover, became the group responsi ble for collecting data on all types of HFD measurements. In all the tasks that are undertaken, the IHFC relies on the enthusiasm of its members and colleagues who devote much of their time to the important but unglamorous and personally unrewarding tasks that were asked of them, and we arc fortunate that our parent institutions are usually quite tolerant of the time spent by their employees on IHFC work.

Climate for the 21st century is expected to be considerably different from the present and recent past. Industrialization growth combined with the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and massive deforestation are well above the values over the past several decades and are expected to further grow. Air temperature is rising rapidly well as does the weather variability producing frequent extreme events. Six of the ten warmest years occurred in the 1990s. Temperatures predicted for the 21st century ranges well above the present day value. The time period of the last 100-200 years covered by the direct meteorological observations is too short and does not provide material to reliably assess what may happen over the next hundred(s) years. A faithful prediction of the future requires understanding how climate system works, i.e. to reconstruct past climate much further in the past. Borehole paleoclimatology enables climate reconstruction of the past several millennia, unlike proxy methods provides direct past temperature assessment and can well broaden the areal range to the remote regions poorly covered with meteorological observations. Considerable debates have recently focused on the causes of the present-day warming, i.e. to distinguish between the natural and anthropogenic contribution to the observed temperature increase, eventually to quantify their regional distribution. Complex interpretation of borehole data with the proxies and additional socio-economic information can hopefully help. On observed data taken in various places all over the world we demonstrate suitable examples of the interaction between the subsurface temperature response to time changes in vegetation cover, land-use (farming) and urbanization. Precise temperature-time monitoring in shallow subsurface can further provide the magnitude of the present-day warming within relatively short time intervals. As far as we know, there exists so far no book dealing entirely with the subject of the Borehole climatology. Only relatively rarely this method is mentioned in otherwise plentiful literature on climate reconstruction or on climate modelling. There are, however, series of papers focussing on various borehole--climate related studies in numerous journals (e.g. Global and Planetary Change, Climate Change, Tectonophysics, Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters, etc). Time to time a special issue appears to summarize papers on this topic presented during specialized symposia. Key Features - Description of a new useful alternative paleoclimate reconstruction method - A suitable source of information for those wishing to learn more about climate change - Material for lecturing and use in the classroom - Ample practical examples of borehole temperature inversions worldwide - Ample illustrations and reference list - Authors have a good knowledge of the problem based on more than 20 years of experience, one of them actually pioneered the method - Description of a new useful alternative paleoclimate reconstruction method - A suitable source of information for those wishing to learn more about climate change - Material for lecturing and use in the classroom - Ample practical examples of borehole temperature inversions worldwide - Ample illustrations and reference list - Authors have a good knowledge of the problem based on more than 20 years of experience, one of them actually pioneered the method

A handbook for geologists and geophysicists who manipulate thermal data; professionals researchers, and advanced students.

Terrestrial Heat Flow and the Lithosphere Structure summarizes current problems of analyzing related data. The individual chapters are written by leading scientists in geothermics, and are arranged in three sections: - General Lithospheric Geothermics - Regional Lithospheric Geothermics - Worldwide Heat Flow Density Studies. Emphasis is laid on the interrelations between lithospheric structure and local heat flow fields.

This volume is devoted to investigation of all aspects of heat-mass transfer processes at different scales and from various origins, as well as the formation and evolution of geological structures. These phenomena are linked to geophysical properties of rocks, geothermal resources, geothermics, fluid dynamics, stress-state of the lithosphere, deep geodynamics, plate tectonics, and seismicity, among others. The book consists of two main parts. The first concerns heat-mass transfer associated with natural and technogenic processes in the upper lithosphere. The second deals with geodynamics and seismicity. The collection of over 25 chapter from leading investigators in Russia is thus an important contribution to research on the lithosphere in connection with formation and evolution of geological structures; heat and mass transfer processes in the lithosphere and their connection with deep Earth geodynamics. Collects a range of research methodologies including application of modelling, seismic tomography, geological field works, geological-geophysical methods, and in situ measurements through instrumentation; Explains how a wide range of geological and geophysical phenomena arising in the Earth’s lithosphere can be investigated under the umbrella of a common approach to heat-mass transfer processes; Includes the latest research by more than 60 leading scientists from Russia.