Definition

A layer in a body of water that separates warmer water on top from colder water below, where the temperature changes quickly as you go deeper.

Example

The fish prefer to stay in the thermocline where the temperature is just right for them.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the thermocline in lakes?

Yeah, I think it's that layer where the water temperature changes a lot, right?

Exactly! It’s interesting how it separates the warm surface water from the cold deeper water.

I love learning about stuff like that; it really explains how ecosystems work underwater.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thermocline is formed from "thermo-" (from Greek "thermos", meaning heat) and "cline" (from Greek "klinein", meaning to lean or slope). The term describes a layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, indicating a slope of temperature.

Memory Tip

Think of 'heat' ('thermo-') and a 'slope' ('cline') to remember that a thermocline is a layer where temperature changes steeply.

Visually Confused Words