Stratification of Ponds

Stratification of Ponds

Ponds have little vertical stratification. In them littoral zone is large than and limnetic
zone and profundal zone. In a small pond the limnetic profundal zones are not found. The warm top layer, the epilimnion is heated by the sun and homogenised by the wind and other currents. On the contrary to it, the deep cold layer, the hypolimnion is not heated by sun and not circulated by wind. The basis upon which the layers are maintained is strictly thermal and is caused by the fact that the warmer water is lighter than the colder water. After the formation of a thermocline, no exchange of water occurs between the epilimnion and hypolimnion.