THERMAL POLLUTION

Thermal pollution is a rise or a fall in temperature in a natural body of water caused by human being.

A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant in power plants and industrial manufacturers. When water, which is used as a coolant, is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature of water brings impacts to organisms by decreasing oxygen supply, and affecting ecosystem composition.

Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers. This affects fish (particularly eggs and larvae), macroinvertebrates and river productivity.