stratification

A geological term for the formation of layers in sedimentary rock in which breaks in the deposition or changes in the nature of the deposited material define visible bedding planes. The term is also used in describing sequences of lava flows.

Stratification is the building up of layers, and can have several variations of meaning:

Social stratification, is the dividing of a society into levels based on wealth or power. Stratification in archaeology is the formation of layers (strata) in which objects are found. Stratification of rock layers (strata) is part of the geologic field of Stratigraphy. In logic, stratification is a layering of predicate symbols to guarantee unique interpretations and to avoid paradoxical definitions like Russell's paradox. Stratification is a separate meaning as applied to manifolds, and singularity theory, of a decomposition into pieces with specified relationships on fitting together. In music stratification is a layering of musical texture or the independent operating of more than one parameter simultaneously (see auditory stream). In meteorology, atmospheric stratification is the division of the atmosphere into distinct layers, each with specific properties such as temperature or humidity. stratification (water) can occur due to gradients in salinity or temperature, e.g. lake stratification In histology, stratified epithelium refers to epithelium that consists of two or more layers of epithelial cells, in contrast to simple epithelium, which only has one layer. Medical Stratification of air- unmixed air within a confined space that is separated into thermal layers due to temperature variations.