Thermal pollution refers to the sudden disturbances in the temperature level of the water. It mostly happens when the huge amount of hot water gets dumped into the cooler water. It is affecting not only humans who consume this water for drinking or different household chores but also the aquatic life and living creatures. There are several causes and effects of thermal pollution which we must highlight to be able to deal with this issue effectively. Otherwise, we might have to bear drastic consequences in the future.
One of the major causes of thermal pollution includes the human factor. A huge number of industries are being operated worldwide so the negligence of humans can turn out to be dangerous for everyone around them. For instance, industries tend to pull cold water from the rivers to keep their machinery working without getting heat up. As a result, they throw back the relatively warmer water in the main water bodies which further leads to thermal pollution. Some natural factors like lightning and volcanoes are also the major cause of thermal pollution. When the summer season is at the peak, the temperature of the water gets higher which later runs off to the nearby water body.
On the other hand, deforestation and soil erosion are the artificial causes of thermal pollution. Due to the lack of trees and plants, the water doesn’t get any proper shade to stay cooler. It gets exposed to direct sunlight and its temperature rises to a great extent. Retention ponds are another major reason that adds to thermal pollution. The pond water is comparatively hotter than that of the river or sea as it absorbs more heat. When it gets mixed up with the water of main bodies, it causes a significant increase in their temperature levels as well. This way, it doesn’t only affect the quality of water but also poses a threat to the lives of human beings, plants, or animals.
The effects of thermal pollution are diverse and we must know all of them to be able to eradicate them. One of the most common effects of thermal pollution is that it reduces the population of animals and humans. All living organisms respond differently to the sudden change in the temperature of the water. Some of them even die at the spot because of not being able to get adapted to the environment while others try to migrate to another suitable area. In either way, their ecosystem gets disrupted. Those who get stuck in such unfavorable conditions have to bear significant losses. Also, the living organisms become unable to reproduce which in turn causes the loss of biodiversity.
In a nutshell, thermal pollution is one of the major issues that we are facing today. It has numerous causes and effects that can help us tackle the issue wisely. Once we realize how badly it affects the lives of everyone living on this earth’s surface, we must take proper steps to prevent its catastrophic consequences in the long run.
