When cold and warm water within a water body form zones: epilimnion (warm surface layer), thermocline or metalimnion (transition zone between warm and cold water), and hypolimnion (cold bottom water).
Vertical temperature stratification that shows the following... The upper layer of the lake, known as the epilimnion, in which the water temperature is virtually uniform; a stratum next below, known as the thermocline, in which there is a marked drop in temperature per unit of depth; and the lowermost region or stratum, known as the hypolimnion, in which the temperature from its upper limit to the bottom is nearly uniform.
Horizontal layering of water in a lake caused by temperature-related differences in density. A thermally stratified lake is generally divided into the epilimnion (uppermost, warm, mixed layer), metalimnion (middle layer of rapid change in temperature and density) and hypolimnion (lowest, cool, least mixed layer).
THER-mal STRAH-tah-fah-KAY-shun Layers within lakes that have different temperatures. 879
The layering of warmer waters over colder waters that can occur in lakes, usually in the summertime. This layering occurs because as surface waters are warmed they become less dense than the underlying colder waters.
The layer of water based on the density of water at different temperatures. Warm water is at the top; and cold water near the bottom.
Separation of water into different temperature layers. Upper layer: EPILIMNION, middle layer: THERMOCLINE, and bottom layer: HYPOLIMNION.
The formation of layers of different temperatures in a lake or reservoir.