POLYTHERMAL Meaning and
Definition
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Polythermal is an adjective that pertains to or describes a system or process that exhibits variable or multiple temperatures. Derived from the Greek terms "poly," meaning many, and "thermal," relating to heat or temperature, the term signifies a condition in which a system or substance possesses different temperature regions or experiences variations in temperature.
In the context of geology, polythermal is frequently employed to describe glaciers or ice sheets composed of both frozen and unfrozen material. These types of ice masses typically exhibit varying thermal characteristics, with portions that are at or below the melting point and others that are fully frozen. This is mainly due to the heat generated by the flow of the ice, leading to areas of thaw and refreeze within the formation.
Polythermal can also be used to describe processes or phenomena within a single body of water. For example, a lake or ocean may experience polythermal conditions when a temperature gradient exists between the surface and deeper layers. This stratification of temperatures can arise due to factors such as differences in solar radiation absorption or variations in water density. Polythermal lakes are common in regions with cold climates, as the surface water may freeze while the deeper layers remain unfrozen.
In summary, the term polythermal refers to systems or substances that exhibit multiple temperature regions or experience temperature variations. It is commonly used in the geological and environmental realms to depict conditions with different thermal characteristics within a single entity.
Etymology of POLYTHERMAL
The word "polythermal" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "poly", meaning many or several, and "thermos", meaning heat or temperature. The root "thermos" is also the basis for the English word "thermal", which refers to heat or temperature. Therefore, "polythermal" can be understood as having multiple or varying temperatures.
