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Thermal Pollution
Sudden change (increase or decrease) Causes:
of temperature of body of water by 1. Use of water in cooling plants
2. Soil erosion
human influence
3. Deforestation
occurs when a plant or facility takes in 4. Run-off from paved surfaces
water from a natural resource and 5. Natural causes
puts it back at an altered temperature 6. Domestic sewage
Degrades the quality of water 7. Thermoelectric Power Generation
can have disastrous effects on local 8. Hydroelectric Power Generation
ecosystems and communities
Thermal enrichment
Causes of Thermal Pollution
1. Use of water as a cooling agent of
industrial, manufacturing, and
powerplants
petroleum refineries, pulp and paper
mills, chemical plants, steel mills, and
other industrial facilities
draw water from a nearby source to
keep machines cool and then release
it back to the source at higher
temperatures
Causes of Thermal Pollution
2. Soil erosion
Consistent soil erosion
causes water bodies to
rise, making them more
exposed to sunlight
Causes of Thermal Pollution
3. Deforestation
Trees and plants prevent
sunlight from falling
directly on lakes, ponds, or
rivers
With deforestation, water
bodies are directly exposed
to sunlight
Wider and shallower bodies
of water
Worsens greenhouse effect
Causes of Thermal Pollution
4. Runoff from Paved surfaces
Runoff from roads, parking
lots, bridges, buildings,
rooftops, etc. can affect
water temperature during
summertime
Causes of Thermal Pollution
5. Natural Causes
Volcanoes, geothermal
vents, lightning
Causes of Thermal Pollution
6. Domestic sewage
discharged into bodies of
water like rivers, lakes,
streams, etc.
without proper sewage
treatment
Usually of higher
temperature
Causes of Thermal Pollution
7. Thermoelectric Power Generation
Thermoelectric power plants are usually built next to bodies of water
in order to have a steady supply of water necessary for their
production
The water being used by power plants is converted to steam in order
to drive turbines for electricity generation.