Fuchs, Sven; Neumann, Florian; Balkan-Pazvantoğlu, Elif; Elbarbary, Samah; Petrunin, Alexey G.; Jennings, Samuel; Elger, Kirsten; Norden, Ben (2025): Global Heat Flow Database Data Template. V. 2025.06. GFZ Data Services. https://doi.org/10.5880/fidgeo.2025.042
Status
I N R E V I E W : Fuchs, Sven; Neumann, Florian; Balkan-Pazvantoğlu, Elif; Elbarbary, Samah; Petrunin, Alexey G.; Jennings, Samuel; Elger, Kirsten; Norden, Ben (2025): Global Heat Flow Database Data Template. V. 2025.06. GFZ Data Services. https://doi.org/10.5880/fidgeo.2025.042
Abstract
Since 1963, the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC | www.ihfc-iugg.org) has been dedicated to providing standards for heat flow measurements and maintaining the Global Heat Flow Database (GHFDB) — a collection of heat flow data from around the world. The first quality framework for heat-flow-density data was proposed by Jessop et al. (1976), reflecting the state of knowledge, measurement techniques, and technical developments at that time.
In 2019, the IHFC initiated a major revision of the GHFDB to develop an authenticated and quality-assessed database. This initiative involved multinational working groups and led to a comprehensive update of key parameters affecting heat-flow calculations. These updates included measurement methods for both temperature and thermal conductivity, as well as metadata structures. The new standard for a revised GHFDB structure was developed through a collaborative community approach and published in 2021 (Fuchs et al., 2021). This standard reflected changes in database technology and scientific documentation and served as a template for users submitting data to the GHFDB.
It was further developed into the currently valid data and metadata standard in 2023, which also introduced an enhanced quality evaluation framework (Fuchs et al., 2023). The ongoing assessment work and the latest release of the GHFDB (Global Heat Flow Database Assessment Group et al., 2024), along with its frequent use, revealed the need for additional refinements. These refinements were particularly necessary in aspects related to metadata consistency, measurement techniques, and classification criteria. Consequently, further updates were implemented to improve the reliability and applicability of the dataset, ensuring a more robust evaluation of global heat-flow data.
Here, we present the 2025.05 version of the GHFDB Data Template. The previous template introduced by Fuchs et al. (2023) has been improved based on the latest data ass6ssment process. The current version of the template incorporates the advancements in data collection methodologies, the IHFC quality evaluation framework, and metadata management, ensuring that data submitted to the GHFDB follows the IHFC standards for the GHFDB.
To promote open access, the template is also hosted on the official GitHub repository of the IHFC: https://github.com/ihfc-iugg. Users can download both the original version from 2023 and the revised template. Maintaining the GHFDB Data Template in a version-controlled environment ensures transparency regarding changes over time and fosters a documentation style that sets high standards to support the reproducibility of research results. Moreover, it supports a smooth and fast integration of data from the research community into the Global Heat Flow Database of the IHFC.
Authors
Fuchs, Sven;GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Neumann, Florian;MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, 28334, Germany
Jennings, Samuel;GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Elger, Kirsten;GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Norden, Ben;GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Contact
Fuchs, Sven; GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany; ➦
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft:
World Heat Flow Database Project (EL 918/2-1)
Keywords
heat flow, heat flow density, data template, Global Heat Flow Database, International Heat Flow Commission, energy > energy type > non-conventional energy > geothermal energy
CharacterString: Since 1963, the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC | www.ihfc-iugg.org) has been dedicated to providing standards for heat flow measurements and maintaining the Global Heat Flow Database (GHFDB) — a collection of heat flow data from around the world. The first quality framework for heat-flow-density data was proposed by Jessop et al. (1976), reflecting the state of knowledge, measurement techniques, and technical developments at that time.
In 2019, the IHFC initiated a major revision of the GHFDB to develop an authenticated and quality-assessed database. This initiative involved multinational working groups and led to a comprehensive update of key parameters affecting heat-flow calculations. These updates included measurement methods for both temperature and thermal conductivity, as well as metadata structures. The new standard for a revised GHFDB structure was developed through a collaborative community approach and published in 2021 (Fuchs et al., 2021). This standard reflected changes in database technology and scientific documentation and served as a template for users submitting data to the GHFDB.
It was further developed into the currently valid data and metadata standard in 2023, which also introduced an enhanced quality evaluation framework (Fuchs et al., 2023). The ongoing assessment work and the latest release of the GHFDB (Global Heat Flow Database Assessment Group et al., 2024), along with its frequent use, revealed the need for additional refinements. These refinements were particularly necessary in aspects related to metadata consistency, measurement techniques, and classification criteria. Consequently, further updates were implemented to improve the reliability and applicability of the dataset, ensuring a more robust evaluation of global heat-flow data.
Here, we present the 2025.05 version of the GHFDB Data Template. The previous template introduced by Fuchs et al. (2023) has been improved based on the latest data ass6ssment process. The current version of the template incorporates the advancements in data collection methodologies, the IHFC quality evaluation framework, and metadata management, ensuring that data submitted to the GHFDB follows the IHFC standards for the GHFDB.
To promote open access, the template is also hosted on the official GitHub repository of the IHFC: https://github.com/ihfc-iugg. Users can download both the original version from 2023 and the revised template. Maintaining the GHFDB Data Template in a version-controlled environment ensures transparency regarding changes over time and fosters a documentation style that sets high standards to support the reproducibility of research results. Moreover, it supports a smooth and fast integration of data from the research community into the Global Heat Flow Database of the IHFC.
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Abstract
;GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
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