Thermal Pollution & Erosion

Unit 7-5 NotesMr. Hefti – Pulaski Biology

The steam is not radioactive.The issue here is all thermal.

Thermal Pollution ► What is it?

• Power plants and industries use water from lakes or rivers as a coolant but return it to the environment at a higher than normal temperature

TP ► What causes it?

• Cold water is taken from great depths and returned warmer

TP ► Why is it bad?

• Species suffocate in the presence of warmer water–Warm water does not hold as

much oxygen as cold water• Some organisms move away• Contributes to algal and bacterial

growth

TP ► What can be done about it?

• Find other uses for heated water

Erosion ► What is it?• The process by which earth’s surface is

worn away by:–Water–Glaciers–Wind–Waves–Humans

E ► What causes it?

•Deforestation•Overgrazing•Poor land

management

E ► Why is it bad?

• Nutrient-rich soil is washed away• Sediments contaminate water

supplies• Desertification

E ► What can be done about it?

• Planting trees • Cover crops• Wind breaks• Terrace farming• Runoff barriers• Rotate pastures