Lake stratification
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It has been suggested that Epilimnion, Metalimnion and Hypolimnion be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
Lake stratification is the separation of lakes into three layers:
- Epilimnion - top of the lake.
- Metalimnion (or Thermocline) - middle layer that may change depth throughout the day.
- Hypolimnion - the bottom layer.
The thermal stratification of lakes is a change in the temperature at different depths in the lake. Temperatures change from season to season to create a cyclic pattern that is repeated from year to year.
If the stratification of water lasts for extended periods, the lake is meromictic. Conversely, for most of the time, a mere is unstratified; that is, its water is all epilimnion.
[edit] External links
- "Density Stratification", part of an educational website Water on the Web operated by the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Retrieved 11-March-2007.
- Lake Stratification in Lake Lanier and its effects on the Chattahoochee River
Other links related- http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/lakes/chchem.htm