Which process primarily governs water salinity stratification within a fjord?

💡 Explanation

When freshwater from river runoff enters a fjord, lower density causes stratification preventing complete mixing because gravity resists the overturning of denser underlying water resulting in a lens. Density differences, therefore, cause stratification, rather than tidal and thermal effects which homogenize or have lessened effects.

• Which process initiates oxbow lake formation when a river's channel migrates laterally?
• Which coastal outcome sharply increases with glacial isostatic rebound?
• Which process causes increased deposition of alluvial sediment at a river delta when average sea level rises steadily?
• Which ocean-atmosphere effect results from Hadley cell weakening?
• Which risk increases when rapid alluvial fan deposition blocks a mountain valley outlet?
• Which mechanism causes increased coastal erosion near large river estuaries when upstream dams alter streamflow patterns?