Summer stratification - thermal stratification, Biology

Assignment Help:

Summer Stratification - Thermal stratification

Thermal stratification is fairly pronounced during the summer seasons in most lakes of the temperate (cold) regions but is rare in lakes of tropical (hot) and subtropical regions where it occurs only in very deep lakes. This is so, because the rate of mixing of layers is very fast in case of tropical lakes whereas, the temperate lakes retain well defined layers showing different temperature. These layers do not mix rapidly. Therefore the temperate lakes exhibit clear stratification with respect to temperature. Let us understand how thermal stratification develops in water bodies and why it is maximum during the summer seasons.

In lakes the top one metre of the water surface directly absorbs around 90 per cent of the total solar radiation falling on it and is considerably more heated in the process. Consequently, the lower sub-surface layers receive progressively less radiation and remain relatively cool. Thus, the lake becomes thermally stratified, with its water forming layers due to temperature differences or thermal gradients. Thermal stratification is maximum during the summer season, primarily due to two reasons. Firstly, due to the fact that solar intensity increases during this period and it heats the surface layer greatly while the lower layers remain comparatively cool. Secondly, the thermally stratified layers offer resistance to mixing by wind. The fairly pronounced stratification of lakes developed in summer is called summer stratification or stagnation.


Related Discussions:- Summer stratification - thermal stratification

Can we make artificial cells, Q. Can we make artificial cells? Research...

Q. Can we make artificial cells? Research in progress at the "National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)" is focused on artificial cells as a means to deliver medici

Define tubular-dorsal nervous system, Q. How can the tubular-dorsal nervous...

Q. How can the tubular-dorsal nervous system in chordates be compared to the nervous pattern present in invertebrates? In chordates the nervous system is dorsal and highly ceph

On average what is the life duration of the red blood cells, On average wha...

On average what is the life duration of the red blood cells? Where are they destroyed? What is the destination of the heme groups after the destruction of hemoglobin molecules?

Explain in brief about leukotrienes and prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and pr...

Leukotrienes and prostaglandins are produced only when the mast cell undergo degranulation and enzymatic break down of phospholipids in the plasma membrane. The effects formed b

Heat stroke, H e a t stroke It is also known as sun stroke or hypert...

H e a t stroke It is also known as sun stroke or hyperthermia and results in excessive rise of body temperature and absence of sweating. E t i o l og

Transcription factors have multiple domains, In most cases, the transcripti...

In most cases, the transcription factors in eukaryotes which bind to promoter   or enhancer sequences   are activator   proteins   which induce   transcription.   That proteins gen

Define x-ray chest and coronary angiography, Q. Define X-Ray Chest and Coro...

Q. Define X-Ray Chest and Coronary Angiography? X-Ray Chest It shows cardiomegaly with left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) enlargement. There may be signs of pulmona

Qualitative estimation of protein-amino acid content in food, Define Qualit...

Define Qualitative Estimation of Protein/Amino Acid Content in Foods? The protein and amino acid content of foods helps to interpret nutritional differences among foods in term

Define diet for treatment for protein energy malnutrition, Define Diet for ...

Define Diet for Treatment for Protein Energy Malnutrition? Treatment of cases of kwashiorkor or marasmus involves mainly providing appropriate nutrition support. The child shou

Hazard, Hazards Is an event whether natural or man-made that has potential ...

Hazards Is an event whether natural or man-made that has potential for causing injury, loss of life and damage to the property or the environment. It can be grouped into two broad

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd