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Thermal Pollution/

Pollution due to Oil


Slicks

Objectives:
1.) Discuss the ideas about the thermal
pollution and pollution due oil slick
2.) Create an advocacy using the theme Stop
Spoiling our Planet
3.) Assimilate the impact of thermal energy in
our environment.

Thermal Energy

It is easy to confuse thermal energy and


heat, or even think that the terms can be
used interchangeably. However, the two
terms are quite different. Thermal energy
most commonly comes from fossil fuels
such as coal or gas. In addition, thermal
energy can be generated by resources such
as biomass, solar and geothermal.

Biomass - this is a fuel generated from organic materials.


Some examples are scrap lumber, manure and forest debris

Solar - in addition to being used for producing electricity,


sunlight can also be used to generate heat. Solar water
heaters are one example of using the sun as a resource for
thermal energy

Geothermal - geothermal energy is heat from the earth.


Some examples of sources for geothermal energy are hot
springs, hot steam from vents in the earth and using the
stable temperature of the earth in conjunction with
underground heat pumps

What is thermal pollution ?

Is a temperature increase in a body of water that is


caused by human activity and that has harmful effect on
water quality and on the ability of that body of water to
support life.
Thermal pollution can occur when power plants and other
industries use water in their cooling system and then
discharge the warm water into lake or river.

Cause of Thermal pollution


1. Water as cooling Agent in Power,
Manufacturing and Industrial plants:
production and manufacturing plants are biggest source of thermal pollution.
These plants draw water from nearby source to keep machines cool and then release
back to source when with high temperature.

2.

Soil Erosion:

is another major factor that cause thermal pollution. Consistent soil erosion
causes water causes water bodies to rise , making them more exposed to
sunlight.

3. Deforestation:

Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly on lakes, ponds, or rivers.
When deforestation takes place, these water bodies are directly exposed to
sunlight thus absorbing more heat and raising its temperature.
4. Runoff from paved surfaces:

Urban runoff discharge to surface waters from paved surfaces like roads and
parking lots can make water warmer.

` 5. Natural causes:

Natural causes like volcanoes and geothermal activity under the oceans seas
trigger warm lava to raise the temperature of water bodies.

Effects of thermal Pollution


1. Decrease in DO (Dissolved Oxygen ) Levels:

The warm temperature reduce the levels of DO (Dissolved Oxygen) in water.


The warm water holds relatively less the oxygen than cold water.

2. Increase in Toxins:

With the constant flow of high temperature discharge from industries, theres a
huge increase in toxins that are being regurgitated into the natural body of water.

3. Loss of Biodiversity:

A dent in the biological activity in the water may cause significant loss biodiversity.

4. Ecological Impact:

A sudden thermal shock can result in mass killings of fish, insects, plants, or
amphibians.

5. Affects reproductive systems:

A significant halt in the reproduction of marine wild life, excessive temperature can
cause the release of immature eggs.

Pollution due to Oil Slicks

An oil spill happens when liquid


petroleum is released into the environment
by vehicle, vessel or pipeline. It happens On
a large scale and is mostly seen in water
bodies.

What Creatures are most affected by Oil spills?

Coral reefs
Mangroves

Sea otters
Marine Birds
Turtles

What type of spilled oil causes the most harm?


Light

oils such as (gasoline and diesel fuel)

lights oil are very volatile they evaporate relatively quickly so they usually remain for
long in the aquatic or marine environment .
Lights

oil present two significant hazards

First , some can ignite or explode


Second, toxic they can kill animals or plants that they touch they are also dangerous
to humans who breath their fumes or get them on their skin.

Heavy

oils-

Bunker oils, which are used to fuel ships, these oil can be very
persistent they are generally significantly less acutely toxic than
lighter oils if heavy oils get onto the feathers of birds the birds may
die of hypothermia

Implication
Turn

off the light

think about how many lights you have in your house, as well as all the
electronics like computers or TVs all of these things use electricity if we all were to
turn off lights, computers and televisions when were not using them we wouldnt be
using as mush oil to create the electricity throughout the house if everyone around
the world decided to use less oil, we would lower the risk of a large spill.

Direction: Write the correct answer


on your paper.
1.) This oil is very volatile they evaporate relatively quickly so they
usually remain for long in the aquatic or marine environment.
a. Lights oil
b. Heavy oil
c. Medium oil
2.) these oil can be very persistent they are generally significantly
less acutely toxic than lighter oils if heavy oils get onto the
feathers of birds the birds may die of hypothermia
a. Lights oil
b. Heavy oil
c. Medium oil

3.) What oil that used in fuel ships?


a. Bunker oil
b. Gasoline
c. Diesel
4.) What is the cause of thermal pollution, Choose the best answer.
a. Water as cooling Agent in Power,
Manufacturing and Industrial plants.
b. Increase in Toxins.
c. Decrease in DO (Dissolved Oxygen ) Levels.
5.) What Creatures are most affected by Oil spills?
a. cat, dog, farm
b. Sea otters, turtles, marine birds
c. Birds, monkey, mouse

Key to correction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A
B
A
A
B

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