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

Cell, compare and contrast plant cell and animal cell with labeling diagram...

compare and contrast plant cell and animal cell with labeling diagrams

Calculate the electric field at a point midway, Three charges are at the co...

Three charges are at the corners of an equilateral triangle, as shown in the figure below. Calculate the electric field at a point midway between the two charges on the x-axis. (Le

Transport in phloem, Transport in Phloem The basic necessities of plan...

Transport in Phloem The basic necessities of plants, water, are taken up by the roots. Another purpose served by the roots is to absorb water soluble mineral nutrients from th

Symptoms of gastro oesophageal reflux disease, Q. Symptoms of gastro oesoph...

Q. Symptoms of gastro oesophageal reflux disease? Most commonly, people with GERD complain of heartburn, a painful or uncomfortable feeling in the chest, which may radiate to t

What is a cytoskeleton, What is a cytoskeleton? What are its main constitue...

What is a cytoskeleton? What are its main constituents in animal cells? Cytoskeleton is the cytoplasmic structure that handles the cell, keeps its shape and fixates and moves t

Which functional group ionization is stabilized by resonance, In which of t...

In which of the following functional groups ionization is stabilized by resonance? Select one: a. Carboxyl b. Hydroxyl c. Amine d. Aldehyde e. All of the above

Stem - plant growth substances, Stem - Plant Growth Substances The rol...

Stem - Plant Growth Substances The role of auxins, cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid in controlling the apical bud dominance and lateral bud dormancy (Apical Dominance) a

Results-pulmonary valve disease, Results :  In critical pulmonary stenosis...

Results :  In critical pulmonary stenosis in infancy, surgical mortality is 6 per cent. For children and adults with isolated pulmonary valve stenosis, the mortality approaches 0

Biodiversity, composition of aquatic animals what are their groupings

composition of aquatic animals what are their groupings

Determine the term - nitrogen, Determine the term - Nitrogen Most of n...

Determine the term - Nitrogen Most of nitrogen is available as organic nitrogen which has to be mineralised to inorganic form to become available to plants. Estimation of orga

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