This figure shows how sedimentation rate affects heat flow. It is based on a simple 1D basin model, with a steady-state initial thermal condition. A shale (with typical shale properties assumed by basin modelers) layer is deposited between 100 and 99 million years ago followed by a hiatus till present day.
a fixed temperature of 1300 �C at 120 km below the basement and a fixed 10 �C at the sediment surface provide the boundary condition. In a typical basin with continued and varying deposition rate over 10's of million years, the temperature in the sediment column may be always in disequilibrium.
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