Description

Fumaroles and other surface expressions of geothermal systems are windows into the behaviour of those systems below ground. The activity of fumaroles can vary through time, and we suspect that rainfall re-charge, as well as steam extraction activities for geothermal power production, can influence how “full” the reservoir is, and how fast the “geothermal motor” is turning. Rainfall amounts not only change seasonally but also through cyclic events like the Indian Ocean Dipole and long-term trends caused by climate change. To operate the fields optimally and sustainably, maximum steam extraction should be achieved without overusing and reducing the geothermal activity in the system.

Objectives and Methodology

This study will use time series of remotely collected data from the ground as well as from space. Two fumaroles in Kenya’s Olkaria field are currently monitored with ground-based thermal infrared cameras at the surface. Subsurface activity is being monitored by an array of seismometers. Additionally, we are acquiring time series data with the ECOSTRESS thermal infrared sensor on the international space station. There is also the possibility to include spaceborne InSAR time series data in the study. Depending on availability, a thermal UAV/drone survey could also be a possibility.

Further reading

- https://www.utoday.nl/science/68910/we-want-to-see-what-we-can-find-in-the-earth
- Fadel et al (in press) Geoscientific Monitoring of Olkaria’s Geothermal Motor, EOS (AGU)