All flashcards
Flashcard 1: How can thermal pollution affect the food web in aquatic environments?
Answer: Alters species composition, impacting predator-prey relationships. Changes favor heat-tolerant species, disrupting ecosystem balance.
Flashcard 2: What is a thermal plume?
Answer: A body of heated water discharged into a natural water body. Creates distinct temperature zones that can harm local ecosystems.
Flashcard 3: Which aquatic organisms are most affected by thermal pollution?
Answer: Fish and other aquatic species sensitive to temperature changes. Cold-water species have narrow temperature tolerance ranges for survival.
Flashcard 4: How can thermal pollution affect the food web in aquatic environments?
Answer: Alters species composition, impacting predator-prey relationships. Changes favor heat-tolerant species, disrupting ecosystem balance.
Flashcard 5: Identify one indicator species sensitive to temperature changes.
Answer: Salmon, due to specific temperature requirements. Cold-water fish species serve as early warning indicators of thermal changes.
Flashcard 6: Which chemical property of water decreases as temperature increases?
Answer: Solubility of gases, including oxygen. Higher temperatures reduce gas solubility according to Henry's Law.
Flashcard 7: What is one effect of thermal pollution on coral reefs?
Answer: Increased water temperatures can cause coral bleaching. Heat stress causes coral polyps to expel symbiotic algae.
Flashcard 8: How can thermal pollution lead to algal blooms?
Answer: Increased temperatures can promote the growth of algae. Warmer temperatures accelerate algal metabolism and reproduction rates.
Flashcard 9: How does deforestation contribute to thermal pollution?
Answer: Increases sunlight reaching water bodies, raising temperatures. Removal of shade increases solar heating of water surfaces.
Flashcard 10: What role do riparian buffers play in preventing thermal pollution?
Answer: They provide shade and reduce temperature increases. Tree canopies block solar radiation and maintain cooler water temperatures.
Flashcard 11: What is one effect of decreased dissolved oxygen on aquatic life?
Answer: It can lead to the death of aquatic organisms. Low oxygen levels cause suffocation and mortality in aquatic organisms.
Flashcard 12: Identify a common source of thermal pollution.
Answer: Power plants and industrial facilities that use water as a coolant. These facilities discharge heated water after using it for cooling industrial processes.
Flashcard 13: How does thermal pollution affect aquatic plant life?
Answer: It can alter growth rates and species distributions. Temperature affects photosynthesis rates and competitive advantages.
Flashcard 14: What is a thermal effluent?
Answer: Heated water discharged from industrial processes. Waste heat discharge from cooling systems creates localized warming.
Flashcard 15: How can thermal pollution increase the vulnerability of aquatic species to diseases?
Answer: Stress from temperature changes can weaken immune systems. Heat stress compromises immune function, increasing disease susceptibility.
Flashcard 16: How can urban development contribute to thermal pollution?
Answer: Runoff from heated surfaces raises water body temperatures. Pavement and buildings create heat islands affecting nearby water.
Flashcard 17: What is the effect of increased water temperature on aquatic invasive species?
Answer: It can facilitate their spread by creating favorable conditions. Warmer waters often favor non-native species over native ones.
Flashcard 18: How does thermal pollution affect the chemical reactions in water?
Answer: Increases the rate of chemical reactions. Higher temperatures accelerate reaction kinetics in aquatic systems.
Flashcard 19: What is a common monitoring method for thermal pollution?
Answer: Using temperature sensors in water bodies. Continuous monitoring detects temperature anomalies and pollution sources.
Flashcard 20: How does thermal pollution impact recreational activities?
Answer: It can lead to closures of beaches and fishing areas. Elevated temperatures create unsafe conditions for water-based recreation.
Flashcard 21: Describe one impact of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
Answer: Loss of biodiversity due to temperature-sensitive species decline. Temperature-sensitive species migrate or die, reducing ecosystem diversity.
Flashcard 22: What is one example of an ecosystem service affected by thermal pollution?
Answer: Water purification processes can be disrupted. Temperature changes affect natural filtration and nutrient cycling processes.
Flashcard 23: What is a thermal plume?
Answer: A body of heated water discharged into a natural water body. Creates distinct temperature zones that can harm local ecosystems.
Flashcard 24: Identify a natural cause of thermal pollution.
Answer: Volcanic activity or geothermal springs. Natural geological processes can create localized heating of water.
Flashcard 25: Identify one adaptive measure for industries to reduce thermal pollution.
Answer: Implementing closed-loop cooling systems. Recirculating water eliminates discharge of heated effluent.
Flashcard 26: State one consequence of thermal pollution on human activities.
Answer: It can affect fisheries by reducing fish populations. Temperature stress reduces fish survival and commercial catch yields.
Flashcard 27: How does thermal pollution affect dissolved oxygen levels?
Answer: It decreases dissolved oxygen levels in water. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, creating hypoxic conditions.
Flashcard 28: What is one method to mitigate thermal pollution from power plants?
Answer: Use of cooling towers to dissipate heat before discharge. Cooling towers allow heat dissipation before water returns to environment.
Flashcard 29: How does thermal pollution affect amphibian populations?
Answer: It can disrupt breeding and developmental stages. Temperature affects amphibian metamorphosis and reproductive success.
Flashcard 30: Why is thermal stratification a concern in lakes?
Answer: It prevents mixing of water layers, affecting oxygen distribution. Prevents water circulation, creating oxygen-depleted bottom layers.