Stratification of Lakes and Reservoirs

The text describes the stratification of lakes and reservoirs, which is the phenomenon of the water column dividing into distinct layers due to differences in temperature.

The three main layers are the epilimnion, the metalimnion, and the hypolimnion. The epilimnion is the warmest layer and is where most photosynthesis occurs. The metalimnion is the middle layer and contains the thermocline, which is the area where the temperature gradient is the steepest. The hypolimnion is the bottom layer and is the coldest and most dense.

Here are some questions and answers about the stratification of lakes and reservoirs:

• What are the three main layers of a stratified lake or reservoir?
• What is the thermocline?
• What is the difference between the epilimnion and the hypolimnion?
• Why does the hypolimnion become stagnant?
• What happens to the nutrients in the hypolimnion when the lake or reservoir de-stratifies?

For more information, please see the following resources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_stratification
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/thermal-stratification
• https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Freshwater/Lakes/Lake-Stratification