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The gravitational stability of NCZ (non-convective zone, also called gradient layer) of solar pond subjected to temperature gradient was researched. The analysis considers solar energy absorption in the layer and assumes certain heat flux values as boundary conditions for the heat-conduction differential equation. The marginal states for the onset of convection were obtained using a Galerkin method based on a weak formulation of the governing equations. The influence of turbidity (extinction coefficient) and heat extraction on the NCZ stability was studied. The analysis of linear stability on the salt gradient layer indicates that the critical stability value Rae is not much susceptible to the turbidity of the water, and a turbid pond tends to a decreasing Rae. Synthetically considering the influence of heat extraction and water turbidity, when the heat extraction f is 0. 65-0. 70, the influence of water turbidity on stability of NCZ is the least. When f is smaller than this value, Rae increases with the increase of turbidity, and system tends stable; but when f is larger than this value, Rae decreases with the increase of turbidity, and system tends unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]