Thermocline – Living Oceans Foundation

[thur-muh-klin]
A layer of water located between the surface and deep water layers that rapidly decreases in temperature.

Glossary: Deep Water Layer
The layer of water below the thermocline that slowly decreases in temperature as depth increases.
Glossary: Surface Layer
The layer of water located above the thermocline. It is referred to as the mixed layer because this is where winds and waves stir up the water. This layer is also highly influenced by solar energy (from the sun) heating up the water. The temperature is roughly that of the air above it.