Theory 69/Freshwater & Wetland/Lake mixing
Stratification Is a Wind Ratio
The claim
Lake stratification breaks down when the ratio of wind energy to density difference falls below a threshold, so a deep lake can mix in a windy year and stratify in a calm one.
01Mechanism
Wind supplies the energy to overturn; buoyancy resists it. The ratio determines which wins.
02Prediction
Stratification should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Stratification tracking temperature alone would remove wind.