Knowra Thermal pollution Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is a harmful human-caused change in the temperature of an environment, commonly when heated water enters rivers, lakes, or coastal waters.
Dissolved oxygen : The amount of oxygen gas dissolved in water and available to aquatic organisms. Warmer water holds less oxygen, intensifying oxygen stress in affected habitats.
Once-through cooling : A cooling system that withdraws water, passes it through equipment, and returns it to the environment. Its warm return flow can create a thermal plume near the discharge point.
Coral bleaching : The loss of symbiotic algae or their pigments from corals, often triggered by heat stress. Localized marine warming can push corals toward heat stress and bleaching.
Water pollution : The contamination or harmful alteration of water’s physical, chemical, or biological properties. Thermal pollution is a form of water pollution defined by temperature change.
Water quality : The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water that determine its suitability for uses and ecosystems. Temperature is one measurable dimension of water quality.
Thermal shock : Physiological injury caused by a rapid change in an organism’s temperature. Sudden discharge temperature changes can injure or kill organisms before they acclimate.
Cooling tower : A structure that removes heat from water mainly through evaporation and releases it to the atmosphere. Cooling towers reduce the need to discharge large volumes of heated water into aquatic habitats.
Fish migration : The movement of fish between habitats, often linked to feeding, spawning, or seasonal conditions. Temperature changes can shift migration routes and access to spawning habitat.
Chemical pollution : Environmental contamination caused by harmful chemical substances. Unlike chemical pollution, thermal pollution changes temperature without requiring a contaminant substance.
Environmental monitoring : Systematic measurement of environmental conditions to detect change and assess impacts. Temperature monitoring identifies discharge patterns and downstream warming.
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