Limnology is the scientific study of inland waters, encompassing the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other standing or flowing freshwater bodies. This interdisciplinary field examines the distribution of aquatic organisms, the cycling of nutrients, and the role of hydrology and geomorphology in shaping aquatic ecosystems. Researchers study parameters such as temperature stratification, dissolved oxygen levels, primary productivity, and the processes governing sediment deposition and water quality, contributing to an understanding of freshwater resource management and global biogeochemical cycles.