Consider a lake that is uniformly 10°C. What happens to the oxygen-rich surface water as it cools down to ?

Question

Consider a lake that is uniformly 10°C. What happens to the oxygen-rich surface water as it cools down to  ?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the surface water cools down and reaches 4°C, it becomes denser, and as a result, sinks towards the bottom of the lake. This process is known as thermal stratification. The sinking of the surface water creates a mixing of water throughout the lake, which distributes oxygen-rich water to the deeper parts of the lake. Therefore, the oxygen-rich surface water cools and sinks towards the bottom of the lake in a process called turnover, which occurs during the fall and spring seasons. Choice A is incorrect because microcrystals do not form during this process. Choice B is incorrect because the cooling of water does not affect the rate of evaporation. Choice C is incorrect because the density of the water decreases as it cools, leading to the sinking of the surface water towards the bottom of the lake.

Consider a Lake That Is Uniformly 10°C