Question

Define thermal pollution.

Hint:

“Hot water into rivers = less O\textsubscript{2} = fish stress” — classic thermal pollution.

Answer 1

Step 1: Precise definition.
Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality that occurs when industries or power plants discharge heated (or abnormally cold) effluents into natural water bodies, thereby raising (or altering) the ambient temperature beyond ecological tolerance.
Step 2: Key consequences (one line).
It reduces dissolved oxygen, causes fish kills/thermal shock, and alters species composition.
Step 3: Conclusion.
So, any man-made temperature change that harms aquatic ecosystems is called thermal pollution.