Seismic evidence of increased tectonothermal activity near the Oberpfalz deep continental drilling location (SE Germany)

The success of ultradeep drilling projects, as e.g. within the German Continental Deep Drilling Programme (Kontinentales Tiefbohrprogramm, KTB) in the Oberpfalz strongly depends on the thermal and geological-tectonic environment of the well. In the present paper we apply the correlation of elevated temperatures and seismic reflectivity of the lower continental crust to the deep seismic network of the Oberpfalz. The results together with the correlation to other geoscientific data indicate increased temperatures in the area of the KTB location. These temperatures are most probably related to influences of the Eger graben and possibly are not yet measured at the surface using heat flow determinations.