Halocline & Pycnocline Demonstration

An oceanography lab activity in the classroom, demonstrating how a difference in the water's salinity affects density and stratification within the ocean.

This demo allows for students to observe both a pycnocline (density difference) and a halocline (salinity difference) form within the water.

Students observe the mixing of two cold waters - blue and red dye, however the blue colored water has a high saline concentration (20%).

The combination of these two water masses is amazing to see.

[DawnBrodie]

Where did you purchase the apparatus? I've been searching for one and can't find anything similar.

[Naseerkhan-kcvo]

Your experiment is a good observation but why is the water mixing at the bottom why this change is not visible at the boundary

[yoihenmais]

Will the two water mix up eventually if given enough time?