近日，美国新墨西哥大学Carmen Winn团队报道了活跃的断层使大气流体通过喜马拉雅-西藏造山带的上部地壳地热系统循环。该项研究成果发表在2026年2月9日出版的《地质学》杂志上。

地热活动在喜马拉雅-青藏造山带广泛分布，然而上地壳流体循环与深部热源及流体来源之间的关联仍不甚明晰。

研究组整合了214处温泉的地球化学与同位素数据，并结合断层分布图，以解析热源性质与渗透通道特征。稳定同位素（δ¹⁸O−δD）显示大气降水补给是流体的主要来源，与岩浆体几乎不存在直接相互作用。受断层控制的温泉（略超数据集半数）在统计上温度更高，且在最高温泉中占主导地位。藏南地区温泉分布密度最高，通常沿南北向裂谷或共轭的西北-东北向走滑断层出露，并显示地壳来源的³He/⁴He比值。

藏北温泉平均温度较低，但具有幔源³He/⁴He比值，其中高温泉多与活动走滑断层相关。藏南温泉温度更高却呈现地壳源氦同位素特征，这与该地区深部岩石圈较冷、但部分熔融和新近纪剥蚀作用导致上地壳热流升高的背景有关。地热系统受伸展型与张扭型断层构造控制，这些断层增强了汇聚造山带内上地壳的渗透性，使得大气降水能在中高大陆热流区域内实现循环。

附：英文原文

Title: Venting the roof of the world: Active faults circulate meteoric fluids through upper-crustal geothermal systems of the Himalaya-Tibet orogen

Author: Jason W. Craig, Simon L. Klemperer, Laura J. Crossey, Karl E. Karlstrom, Carmen Winn

Issue&Volume: 2026-02-09

Abstract: Geothermal activity is widespread across the Himalaya-Tibet orogen, yet links between upper-crustal fluid circulation and deeper heat and fluid sources remain poorly understood. We integrate geochemical and isotopic data from 214 thermal springs with fault maps to characterize heat sources and permeability pathways. Stable isotopes (δ18OδD) show meteoric recharge is the primary fluid source, with little to no direct interaction with magma bodies. Fault-controlled springs—slightly over half the data set—are statistically hotter and dominate among the hottest springs. Southern Tibet hosts the highest density of hot springs, typically along north-south rifts or conjugate northwest- and northeast-striking strike-slip faults, yielding crustal 3He/4He ratios. Springs in northern Tibet are on average cooler but have mantle-derived 3He/4He ratios, with the hottest springs associated with active strike-slip faults. The hotter temperatures, yet crustal 3He/4He signature, in southern-Tibet springs relate to upper-crustal heat flow elevated by partial melting and Neogene exhumation, despite a colder deep lithosphere. Geothermal systems are controlled by extensional and transtensional fault geometries that enhance upper-crustal permeability within the convergent orogen, enabling meteoric circulation in a region of average to high continental heat flux.

DOI: 10.1130/G53940.1

Source: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/G53940.1/725648/Venting-the-roof-of-the-world-Active-faultsredirectedFrom=fulltext