ISOHALINE Meaning and
Definition
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Isohaline refers to a term used in oceanography and limnology to describe a body of water or a region where the salinity remains constant or uniform. Derived from the Greek word "iso" meaning equal, and "haline" referring to salt, isohaline essentially means equal salt. It denotes a specific condition where the concentration of dissolved salts, especially chlorides, carbonates, and sulfates, remains consistent over a given area.
Isohalines are significant in understanding various aquatic systems as they assist in determining the division and mixing of different water masses. They are often represented as contour lines on maps or charts to visualize salinity gradients. By studying isohalines, scientists can gain insights into the movement and circulation of water bodies, the formation of ocean currents, as well as changes in salinity due to factors such as evaporation, precipitation, freshwater inputs, and seawater intrusion.
The identification and analysis of isohaline boundaries are essential for assessing the ecological health and productivity of aquatic habitats. They help understand the distribution of marine organisms, particularly those adapted to specific salinity ranges. Additionally, isohaline maps aid in maritime navigation by indicating areas where freshwater or brackish water mixes with seawater, thus influencing vessel buoyancy and potential hazards related to density variations.
Overall, isohaline is a term employed in the sciences to describe an area or body of water exhibiting a uniform salinity level, serving as a fundamental concept in studying and analyzing the composition, dynamics, and interactions observed in aquatic environments.
Common Misspellings for ISOHALINE
- usohaline
- jsohaline
- ksohaline
- osohaline
- 9sohaline
- 8sohaline
- iaohaline
- izohaline
- ixohaline
- idohaline
- ieohaline
- iwohaline
- isihaline
- iskhaline
- islhaline
- isphaline
- is0haline
- is9haline
- isogaline
- isobaline
Etymology of ISOHALINE
The word "isohaline" is derived from two Greek roots: "iso", meaning "equal" or "same", and "halos", meaning "salt". "Isohaline" is a term used in oceanography and hydrology to describe lines or areas of equal salt concentration.
