Thermoclines in large bodies of water are characterized by what?

Thermoclines in large bodies of water are characterized by layers in the water with different temperatures. This vertical temperature gradient occurs because sunlight heats the surface layer of the water, creating distinct layers that do not mix easily. The upper layer, known as the epilimnion, is warm and well-mixed, while the lower layer, called the hypolimnion, is colder and denser. The thermocline itself is the middle layer where the temperature changes rapidly with depth. This phenomenon is crucial for understanding aquatic ecosystems, as it affects the distribution of nutrients and oxygen within the water body.

The presence of distinct temperature layers means that organisms in the different layers may function differently, and it also has implications for thermal stratification and mixing patterns in larger water bodies.