Abstract
The thermal discharge from coastal nuclear power plants and thermal power plants (CNATPP) not only increases the water temperature, but it also stratifies the seawater. Comprehending the characteristics of stratification that is caused by thermal discharge constitutes the basis for developing a comprehensive understanding of how thermal discharge affects marine organisms. The spatial and temporal characteristics of seawater stratification induced by thermal discharge were analyzed on the basis of measured data while using two study areas with different tidal dynamics as examples. The results showed the following. (1) Thermal discharge influenced the area within 3 km of the outlet. (2) In the East China Sea (which has strong tidal dynamics), the most significant stratification occurred 0.5 km–1.0 km from the outlet; however, in the South China Sea (which has weak tidal dynamics), the degree of stratification decreased with increasing distance from the outlet. (3) In the East China Sea (i.e., strong tidal dynamics), the depth of the thermocline during ebb tide gradually moved upward, while that during flood tide gradually moved downward, and the opposite was observed in the South China Sea (i.e., weak tidal dynamics). Finally, (4) the thermocline that was caused by thermal discharge mostly occurred at water depths above 7 m.
Highlights
Most previous studies have shown that the thermal discharge from coastal nuclear power plants and thermal power plants (CNATPP) has a negative impact on the abundance and community structure of phytoplankton [1,2,3,4], zooplankton [5,6,7], macrobenthic animals [8,9], and swimming animals [5,10,11,12], as well as their habitats [13]
Previous studies on the impacts of thermal discharge on marine organisms mainly focused on analyzing the effects of increased seawater temperature that are caused by thermal discharge on marine organisms
Based on research on the Ningde Nuclear Power Plant, Lin et al [20] found that the elevated temperature caused by thermal discharge from the power plant affected the growth of macrobenthos in the study area by significantly affecting the abundance and community structure of the phytoplankton and zooplankton therein
Summary
Most previous studies have shown that the thermal discharge from coastal nuclear power plants and thermal power plants (CNATPP) has a negative impact on the abundance and community structure of phytoplankton [1,2,3,4], zooplankton [5,6,7], macrobenthic animals [8,9], and swimming animals [5,10,11,12], as well as their habitats [13]. Based on research on the Ningde Nuclear Power Plant, Lin et al [20] found that the elevated temperature caused by thermal discharge from the power plant affected the growth of macrobenthos in the study area by significantly affecting the abundance and community structure of the phytoplankton and zooplankton therein. We used two study areas with different tidal dynamics as examples, and we used the measured vertical seawater temperature data to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of seawater stratification that are caused by thermal discharge from CNATPP. Only temperature stratification that was caused by thermal discharge was involved in this study
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
