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Concept Version 14
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Volume and Density

Layers of water in a winter lake

Layers of water in a winter lake

During the winter months of seasonal climates, the warmest water in most lakes and rivers is only 4°C. This 4°C water has the highest density and sinks to the bottom of the lake. As the water becomes colder (<4°C), it becomes less dense and rises to form ice on the surface of the lake. As a result, liquid water always exists in lakes and rivers during the winter months. This unique property of water enables animals and plants to survive under the frozen lake or winter, ensuring that all freshwater life does not go extinct each winter.

Source

    Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. This particular resource used the following sources:

    "Anomalous expansion of water Summer Winter."
    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anomalous_expansion_of_water_Summer_Winter.svg Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related Terms

  • density
  • volume
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