Pycnocline vs. Thermocline

Pycnoclinenoun

A boundary layer in a body of water between areas of different temperature or salinity.

Pycnoclinenoun

A layer of water where the density changes rapidly with depth

Pycnocline

A pycnocline is the cline or layer where the density gradient (∂ρ/∂z) is greatest within a body of water. An ocean current is generated by the forces such as breaking waves, temperature and salinity differences, wind, Coriolis effect, and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun.

Thermoclinenoun

(geography) A layer within a body of water or air where the temperature changes rapidly with depth.

Thermocline

A thermocline (also known as the thermal layer or the metalimnion in lakes) is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid (e.g. water, as in an ocean or lake; or air, e.g.