Thermal plume behaviour and dispersion in the vicinity of Madras Atomic Power Station (east coast of India)

Thermal ecology studies were carried out in the vicinity of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS). During the course of the investigations (monthly cruises) both vertical and spatial distribution of temperature in the vicinity of the power plant out fall and mixing zone were measured using temperature probes (Accuracy ± 0.05 deg C.) The boat cruises covered an sea of 2.5 km2 and in this region the sea surface temperature ranged from 28 to 34 deg C. At a depth of 2 m and below the temperature reaches ambient sea temperature levels (27-28 deg C). During the majority of cruises carried out, the sea current was towards north; hence most the sampling points were fixed towards north of the MAPS. The area occupied by the thermal plume was 1.3 sq. km. The sea surface temperature was found to be dependent on the seasonal current variations. (author)