Seawater is layered or stratified due to water of different densities
Surface layer: Warmest, lowest salinity
Intermediate Layer: zone of transition (thermocline and halocline)
Stratification: Layers of water according to their densities (warmer water overlying colder water will not mix and will be contained in one area)
Overturn: changes in density causes water to mix
ex) polar water cools the surface water and increases the density causing the water to sink
Pycnocline: rapid change in density
Thermocline: rapid change in temperature
Halocline: rapid change in salinity
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