Some notes on the use of the term »termoclina«
Abstract
We see from what has been said above that the temperature is an important factor valid for both the open sea and the inshore regions as well as for fresh waters, which determines, by its maximal gradient (thermoclina), the position of the maximal gradient σt in the layers (pycnoclina). These two data should, however, not be confounded or even identified, as it happens when using the terms thermoclina, Sprungschicht, discontinuity layer, and others to mark one and the same phenomenon. That cannot be admitted owing to the fact that the influence or the maximal gradient of salinity (haloclina) in the inshore regions, where the influx of fresh waters is more felt, may overweigh the value of thermoclina and cause the thermoclina layer and the pycnoclina layer to be separated at the same station for tens of metres in some instances. It happens analogously in straits where there is a simultaneous flow of deep water in one direction and a flow of surface water of different salinity in the opposite direction, as it had been found in the straits of Gibraltar and Bosphorus.
Owing to these facts, and in order to avoid any confusion, the use of the following terms is suggested for maximal gradients of density, temperature, and salinity, respectively:
»p y c n o c l i n a« - for the layer of water with the maximally developed gradient of specific gravity,
»h a l o c l i n a« - analogously - for the layer with the maximally developed gradient of salinity,
»t h e r m o c l i n a« - for the layer with the maximal gradient of temperature.
The term »c l i n a« has been used in this paper as a common term for the above three notions.
