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

Sharps-hazards in biology laboratory, SHARPS : Cuts due to careless handli...

SHARPS : Cuts due to careless handling of sharps such as sectioning razors, microtome blades etc. are probably the most common cause of injury in the biology lab. The only real re

What is black mold, What is black mold? Mold is a fungus. Black mold is...

What is black mold? Mold is a fungus. Black mold is not an official term, since it is not possible to tell with the naked eye what type of mold is present, and many of them app

Sphingolipids, What are Sphingolipids? Also there link to cancer caused in ...

What are Sphingolipids? Also there link to cancer caused in cells.

Similarities between pisces and amphibians, Ask question #Minimuwhat are th...

Ask question #Minimuwhat are the similarities between pisces and amphibians

What is reverse cholesterol transport, Q. What is Reverse Cholesterol Trans...

Q. What is Reverse Cholesterol Transport? HDL is involved in reverse cholesterol transport whereby cholesterol surplus to cellular requirements is returned from the periphery t

Determine the occurrence of biotin, Occurrence of Biotin Biotin occurs ...

Occurrence of Biotin Biotin occurs in nature very likely in all living cells, although usually in minute concentrations. In animal organs and in yeast, biotin is mainly cont

What do you understand by cyanogenic glycosides, Q. What do you understand ...

Q. What do you understand by Cyanogenic glycosides? Cyanogenic glycosides are present in a number of food plants and seeds. Cassava is a staple dietary item in tropical Afri

Explain nelfinavir, Explain Nelfinavir (NFV, Viracept)  Nelfinavir is a...

Explain Nelfinavir (NFV, Viracept)  Nelfinavir is a commonly used protease inhibitor because it is well tolerated. It appears to be less potent than lopinavir/ritonavir or efav

What is the neurotransmitter of the neuromuscular junction, What is the neu...

What is the neurotransmitter of the neuromuscular junction? How does the nervous system trigger muscle contraction? The nervous cells that trigger the muscle contraction are th

Mollusca, family ,genus, class order , species of mollusca

family ,genus, class order , species of mollusca

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