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

Zoonoses disease-staphylococcosis, Staphylococcosis The disease is caused ...

Staphylococcosis The disease is caused by the ingestion of preformed toxin released by Staphylococcus aureus. Epidemiology: Staphylococci grow in meat, dairy and bakery prod

Genetic reservoir - conservation of wildlife, Genetic Reservoir - Conservat...

Genetic Reservoir - Conservation of Wildlife  Despite the present and future economic and health importance to human beings, very little is known about most of the earth's 1.

Benefits of cross-pollination, Benefits of Cross-Pollination Because o...

Benefits of Cross-Pollination Because of the specific benefits of cross-pollination, flowering plants have evolved many devices to prevent self-pollination and to encourage cr

Cells are miniature chemical factory, Cells is a Miniature Chemical Factory...

Cells is a Miniature Chemical Factory Due  to its incessant metabolic processes, a living   cell earns the  attribute  of a  miniature chemical factory   metabolites and  free

Sample titration - estimation of vitamin c in a solution, Define Sample Tit...

Define Sample Titration - estimation of vitamin c in a solution? Take the given unknown solution provided to you in a 100 ml volumetric flask. Dilute the sample ascorbic acid s

Determine the nutritional needs of humans, Determine the nutritional needs ...

Determine the nutritional needs of humans? In the previous unit, we saw how involvement in sport or vigorous activities can affect the body's nutrient needs. In this unit, we w

What do you mean by trachea, Q. Why doesn't the food enter the trachea inst...

Q. Why doesn't the food enter the trachea instead of going to the esophagus? When food is swallowed the swallow reflex is activated and the larynx closes and elevates to avoid

Korarchaeotes, what is the effect that korarchaeotes have on humans?

what is the effect that korarchaeotes have on humans?

Genotype for each individual, The allele that causes albinism (p) is recess...

The allele that causes albinism (p) is recessive to the allele for normal pigmentation (P). A normal woman whose father is an albino marries an albino man whose parents are both no

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