Which of the following is responsible for the differences in summer and winter temperature stratification of deep temperate zone lakes?
A) Water is densest at 4°C.
B) Oxygen is most abundant in deeper waters.
C) Winter ice sinks in the summer.
D) Stratification is caused by a thermocline.
E) Stratification always follows the fall and spring turnovers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Water is densest at 4°C, which allows for the formation of a temperature stratification in deep temperate zone lakes. In the summer, the warmer surface water remains separate from the cooler, denser water at the bottom of the lake. In the winter, the surface water cools and eventually freezes, allowing for mixing with the deeper water. This leads to a more uniform temperature throughout the lake. The abundance of oxygen in deeper waters and the sinking of winter ice do not directly contribute to temperature stratification. Stratification is caused by a thermocline, which is the layer of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth. While fall and spring turnovers can contribute to changes in lake stratification, they do not always follow a predictable pattern.

Which of the Following Is Responsible for the Differences in Summer