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

Homeostais, what is homeostasis and how does it happen

what is homeostasis and how does it happen

Define common complications with spinal trauma patients, Define Common comp...

Define Common complications with spinal trauma patients? Common complications with spinal trauma patients include pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, hypercalciuria and renal s

Define nutritional needs of the elderly, Define Nutritional Needs of the El...

Define Nutritional Needs of the Elderly? In this, we learnt about the nutritional needs of the elderly, and in doing so we have also focused on many other aspects such as who d

What are the main sources of mercury pollution, Q. What are the environment...

Q. What are the environmental harms caused by mercury pollution? What are the main sources of mercury pollution? The Mercury is a metal that when present in the water of rivers

Do echinoderms have an excretory system, Q. Do echinoderms have an excretor...

Q. Do echinoderms have an excretory system? How is excretion done in these animals? Echinoderms do not have an excretory system their excretions are eliminated by diffusion.

Explain the nutritional and functional role of magnesium, Minerals :- Magne...

Minerals :- Magnesium    Food Source      Whole grains, nuts, legumes, green leafy vegetables Nutritional Functional role Essential nutrient: Deficiency is rare Co

What are the main manifestations of leishmaniasis, Q. What are the main man...

Q. What are the main manifestations of leishmaniasis? There are two key forms of leishmaniasis: visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar). Th

Describe how many bones are there in human foot, Describe how many bones ar...

Describe how many bones are there in human foot The human foot is a great mechanical marvel. It has 26 bones, 29 joints, and 42, various ligaments, a sensitive and protective s

Principles of binomial nomenclature, Q. Principles of Binomial Nomenclature...

Q. Principles of Binomial Nomenclature? There are certain, basic principles of binomial nomenclature which are as follows: i) Different nomenclatural systems are independent

Deficency diseases and metabolic disorders, Deficency Diseases and Metaboli...

Deficency Diseases and Metabolic Disorders Nutrients required for life sustenance are grouped into 6 basic classes, viz. water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vita

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