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.
A hypothesis (, from Greek á½ÏÎ¿ÏÎ¹Î¸Î­Î½Î±Î¹ â hypotithenai meaning to put under or to suppose, plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon.