ther·mo·cline (thûr m -kl n )n. A layer in a large body of water, such as a lake, that sharply separates regions differing in temperature, so that the temperature gradient across the layer is abrupt. |
thermocline [ˈθɜːməʊˌklaɪn]
n
(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a temperature gradient in a thermally stratified body of water, such as a lake
| thermocline (thûrm-kln) 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. |
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