Midway evaluation in Geology - Patrick Kant Muanza

Title of thesis: Detection of Changes in Geothermal Fluxes, Surface Thermal Anomalies, and Mineral Alteration via Remote Sensing Following Periods of Volcanic Unrest at Reykjanes Peninsula, SW-Iceland

Student: Patrick Kant Muanza

Doctoral committee:

Þorvaldur Þórðarson, Professor at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland

Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland

Gunnlaugur M. Einarsson, Senior Geographer at ÍSOR

Sigurður Garðar Kristinsson, Senior Geologist at ÍSOR

AbstractThe Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland is an important geothermal region where heat from the Earth's interior is harnessed for sustainable energy production. However, the region has experienced significant volcano-tectonic unrest in recent years, with seismic activity and eruptions potentially impacting geothermal heat flow and surface thermal anomalies that may be manifested on a range of time scales (i.e. weeks, months to years). While much of the scientific focus has been on these volcanic events, there is an urgent need to systematically monitor how they affect geothermal systems. This project aims to fill this gap by using remote sensing techniques to analyze changes in geothermal flux, surface thermal anomalies and mineral alteration over time. Taking advantage of advanced imaging technologies such as thermal infrared (TIR), multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing, we will track the evolution of geothermal resources before, during and after volcanic unrest. This research will contribute to the sustainable management of geothermal resources, optimizing the production of this energy while minimizing environmental impact. Analysis of infrared thermal remote sensing data, collected between 2014 and 2023, has enabled us to study changes in heat distribution and identify variations in surface thermal anomalies. These changes have been observed in some geothermal fields on the Reykjanes Peninsula, particularly during periods of unrest that may be linked to volcanic and tectonic activity.