Hot springs and geothermal gradients in northern Thailand

Scaling in a geothermal piping system can cause serious problems by reducing flow rates and energy efficiency. In this work, scaling potential of San Kamphaeng (SK) geothermal energy, Northern Thailand was assessed based on geochemical model simulation using physical and chemical properties of hot spring water. Water samples from surface seepage and groundwater wells, analyzed by ICP-OES and ion chromatograph methods for chemical constituents, were dominated by Ca-HCO3 facies having partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 10–2.67 to 10–1.75 atm which is higher than ambient atmospheric CO2 content. Surface seepage samples have lower temperature (60.9°C) than deep groundwater (83.1°C) and reservoir (127.1°C, based on silica geothermometry). Geochemical characteristics of the hot spring water indicated significant difference in chemical properties between surface seepage and deep, hot groundwater as a result of mineral precipitation along the flow paths and inside well casing. Scales were mainly composed of carbonates, silica, Fe-Mn oxides. Geochemical simulations based on multiple chemical reaction equilibria in PHREEQC were performed to confirm scale formation from cooling and CO2-degassing processes. Simulation results showed total cumulative scaling potential (maximum possible precipitation) from 267-m deep well was estimated as 582.2 mg/L, but only 50.4% of scaling potential actually took place at SK hot springs. In addition, maximum possible carbon dioxide outflux to atmosphere from degassing process in SK geothermal field, estimated from the degassing process, was 6,960 ton/year indicating a continuous source of greenhouse gas that may contribute to climate change. Keywords: Degassing, Geochemical modeling, PHREEQC, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, Scaling

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The effects of temperature, pH and sulphide on the community structure of hyperthermophilic streamers in hot springs of northern Thailand

FEMS Microbiology Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00302.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 456-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Diane Purcell ◽

Udomluk Sompong ◽

Lau Chui Yim ◽

Timothy G. Barraclough ◽

Yuwadee Peerapornpisal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Effects Of Temperature

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Diatom diversity in some hot springs of northern Thailand

Botanica ◽

10.2478/botlit-2018-0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 69-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Chayakorn Pumas ◽

Supattira Pruetiworanan ◽

Yuwadee Peerapornpisal

Keyword(s):

Relative Abundance ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Total Hardness ◽

Diatom Species ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

As Species ◽

Conductivity Water ◽

Significant Factors

AbstractDiversity of hot spring diatoms in northern Thailand was studied. Forty-six diatom species were identified in eight localities. The dominant species according to high relative abundance were Diatomella balfouriana (41.7%), Achnanthidium exiguum (20.9%) and Anomoeoneis sphaerophora (11.2%). Moreover, Caloneis molaris, Craticula acidoclinata, Navicula subrhynchocephala and Pinnularia saprophila were recorded as species new to Thailand. The NMDS ordination revealed variation in species composition of eight different hot springs and correlation with the existing environmental variables. Silicon dioxide (SiO2), pH, conductivity, water temperature and total hardness were statistically significant factors affecting relative abundance of Achnanthidium exiguum, Amphora montana, Caloneis aequatorialis, Cocconeis placentula, Craticula cuspidata, Diploneis elliptica, Gomphonema affine, Gomphonema augur, Halamphora fontinalis, Planothidium lanceolatum, Pinnularia abaujensis, Sellaphora lanceolata and Stauroneis anceps.

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Paleoearthquake Investigations of the Mae Hong Son Fault, Mae Hong Son Region, Northern Thailand

Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami ◽

10.1142/s1793431114500079 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 08 (02) ◽

pp. 1450007 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Weerachat Wiwegwin ◽

Ken-Ichiro Hisada ◽

Punya Charusiri ◽

Suwith Kosuwan ◽

Santi Pailoplee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Slip Rate ◽

Large Earthquake ◽

Optically Stimulated Luminescence ◽

Seismic Events ◽

Northern Thailand ◽

Tl Dating ◽

Fault Scarps ◽

Near Future

We applied remote sensing and aerial photographic techniques to a study of the Mae Hong Son Fault (MHSF), located in the Mae Hong Son region, northern Thailand. Several fault lines are recognized in the region, trending mainly NE–SW, NW–SE, and N–S. The main morphotectonic landforms associated with the MHSF are fault scarps, offset streams, linear valleys, triangular facets, offset ridge crests, hot springs, and linear mountain fronts. A trench, a quarry, and a road cut in Caenozoic strata were used to analyze fault geometries in the area. We identified eight paleoearthquake events from trenching, quarry, and road-cut data, and from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) dating. The OSL and TL ages of the events are: (1) 78,000 yr BP; (2) 68,000 yr BP; (3) 58,000 yr BP; (4) 48,000 yr BP; (5) 38,000 yr BP; (6) 28,000 yr BP; (7) 18,000 yr BP; and (8) 8,000 yr BP. The recurrence interval of seismic events on the MHSF appears to be ca. 10,000 years, and the slip rate was estimated as ca. 0.03–0.13 mm/yr. There is a low possibility of a large earthquake on the MHSF in the near future.

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