The Effect of Thermal Discharging on the Island Ecosystem in China: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Abstract

Abstract The island ecosystem is composed of the island terrain, island bedrock, tidal flats, and shallow water. With the increasing of power plants along the coastline, the sea water surrounding the islands is warming. It remains a question the relation between the warming water and ecosystem health. In this study we have analysed many practical examples and found that each part of the ecosystem would be affected by the warming water. Currently, the undisclosed interaction mechanism between each part of the ecosystem and the lack of island ecological background data make it hard to assess the impact of thermal discharging quantitatively. The thermal discharge host can either apply for the island use right in warming areas or not based on the current laws in China. But the strict island utilization procedure bans any activity didn’t register in the use right application, which prohibits the flexibility to react to ecological damage in time. There is still a long way to go before the island in the warming waters achieve a balance between island protection and resource utilization.