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

Determine the axon of a nerve cell, In the axon of a nerve cell, A. the...

In the axon of a nerve cell, A. the voltage-dependent conductance of the voltage-gated potassium channel has a faster time course than the voltage-dependent conductance of the

What are the two mains divisions of the chordate phylum, What are the two m...

What are the two mains divisions of the chordate phylum? Chordates are separated into protochordates (cephalochordates and urochordates) and vertebrates. Life Kingdoms Revi

State the bio-medical waste management, Bio-medical waste management Pe...

Bio-medical waste management Persons coming in contact with bio-medical waste are prone to get injury from sharps likes needles. Injury due to sharps leads to life threatening

Role of microorganism in fermentation foods, Normal 0 false f...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

What are the disadvantages of ridgemapping, Disadvantages of Ridgemapping ...

Disadvantages of Ridgemapping  a) Traumatic procedure b) Time consuming procedure and needs more armamentarium c)  There is an inherent risk of inaccuracy especially whil

Explain the organisation of the intensive care unit, Explain the organisati...

Explain the organisation of the intensive care unit? The following kinds of professional groups are required in the day to day functioning of a modern intensive care unit: Th

Reproductive system of asteroidea, Reproductive System of Asteroidea S...

Reproductive System of Asteroidea Sexes are separate in several asteroids. There are ten (10) gonads, two in each arm. They emerge tuft-like or as cluster of grapes. Mature go

Explain phylum tracheophyta, Phylum Tracheophyta Tracheophytes mean vas...

Phylum Tracheophyta Tracheophytes mean vascular plants. Tracheophyta includes ferns, the gymnosperms and the flowering plants. They have appeared some 400 million years ago, an

Determine the osseus defects around implants, Osseus defects around implant...

Osseus defects around implants. They are classified into four main groups. Group I defects: These demonstrate moderate horizontal bone loss with a minimal intrabony component

Fats, what are fats

what are fats

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