Because salinity (in concert with temperature) affects the density of seawater, it can play a role in its vertical stratification. Essentially, lower salinity water (= lower density) floats on top of higher salinity water (= higher density).
Alternative definition, a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility: You have the alternative of riding or walking. See more.
Step 2: State the Alternative Hypothesis. The reason we state the alternative hypothesis this way is that if the Null is rejected, there are many possibilities. For example, \(\mu_1\ne \mu_2 = â¯ = \mu_k\) is one possibility, as is \(\mu_1=\mu_2\ne\mu_3=â¯=\mu_k\).