thermocline

[ thur-muh-klahyn ]

noun

1. a layer of water in an ocean or certain lakes, where the temperature gradient is greater than that of the warmer layer above and the colder layer below.

thermocline

/ ˈθɜːməʊˌklaɪn /

noun

1. a temperature gradient in a thermally stratified body of water, such as a lake

thermocline

/ thûr′mə-klīn′ /

1. A distinct layer in a large body of water, such as an ocean or lake, in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below. Thermoclines may be a permanent feature of the body of water in which they occur, or they may form temporarily in response to phenomena such as the solar heating of surface water during the day. Factors that affect the depth and thickness of a thermocline include seasonal weather variations, latitude and longitude, and local environmental conditions.

Other Words From

• thermo·clinal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thermocline¹

1895–1900; thermo- + Greek klī́nē bed

Example Sentences

The researchers paid attention to the 'thermocline depth', which is the depth of the interface between warmer deep waters and cooler surface waters.

From Science Daily

Variations in thermocline depth significantly affect the influx of warm water toward the ice shelves.

From Science Daily

It highlighted that while temperatures on the ocean surface had barely changed during the period, temperatures beneath the surface had climbed from 22°C to 29°C due to the thermocline deepening across the equatorial Indian Ocean.

From Science Daily

Clara Diaz, the lead author on the study, said: "What we have recorded categorically demonstrates that this bleaching was caused by a deepening of the thermocline. This is down to the regional equivalent of an El Nino, and due to climate change these cycles of variability are becoming amplified. Moving forward, bleaching in the deeper ocean here and elsewhere will likely become more regular."

From Science Daily

While this trench sequence apes the underrated 2020 Kristen Stewart vehicle “Underwater,” the secret mining operation serves as the plot wrinkle to throw our leads into danger, reveal a few characters as nefarious, and pierce the thermocline barrier, freeing the prehistoric apex predators.

From Los Angeles Times