Question

In winter ice forms on the lakes surfce. there is a layer of highly saline water belwo the ice. suggst how this layer has formed and why ther are areas where hte salty layer is descending towardt h bed of the lake in some places. high school chemistry

Answer 1

In winter, ice forms on a lake's surface due to its lower density compared to liquid water. A layer of highly saline water forms beneath the ice from saltwater inputs or local geology.

Step-by-step explanation:

In winter, ice forms on the surface of lakes because it is less dense than liquid water. This characteristic prevents lakes from freezing solid, allowing aquatic life to survive the cold months. A layer of highly saline water may form below the ice due to differences in the water's salinity and temperature.

Salty water, being denser, can sometimes form a layer beneath the ice. This phenomenon often arises due to inputs of salty water from groundwater or local geology. However, when the ice begins to melt in the spring, and the surface water approaches 4 °C, it becomes denser and sinks.

This process, known as the spring turnover, causes water from the bottom, along with sediments and nutrients, to rise to the top, enriching the lake's surface waters and sometimes displacing the salty layer downward.