For example, trout typically need cold water which may not be available in shallow waters during the summer. Temperature is also an important influence on water chemistry. Rates of chemical reactions also generally increase with increasing temperature. The solubility of important gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide increases as temperature decreases. Inversely the solubility of most minerals increases with increasing temperature.
Thermal stratification is a common occurance in deep northern temperate lakes such as Onondaga Lake.
The vertical temperature profile shown below depicts this layering for a hypothetical summer profile. Thermal stratification is widely considered to be an important regulator of the overall metabolism of a lake. The epilimnion is usually relatively well mixed, as it is subject to mixing induced from the wind. In contrast, mixing is much more limited in the hypolimnion because these deeper lake layers are isolated from energy inputs imparted to the lake s surface. This limited mixing has important implications for the cycling of critical constituents such as nutrients and dissolved oxygen.