halocline

views updated May 17 2018

halocline A zone in which there are rapid, vertical changes in the salinity. In low latitudes the halocline usually represents a decrease in salinity with increasing depth; in high latitudes it may represent the opposite. The halocline is usually well developed in coastal regions where there is much freshwater input from rivers producing surface waters of low salinity, a zone where salinity increases rapidly with depth (the halocline), and a deeper zone of more saline, denser waters.

halocline

views updated May 08 2018

halocline Water layer with a large vertical change in salinity. The halocline is usually well developed in coastal regions where there is much freshwater input from rivers producing surface waters of low salinity, a zone where salinity increases rapidly with depth (the halocline), and a deeper zone of more saline, denser waters.

halocline

views updated May 29 2018

halocline A zone in which there are rapid, vertical changes in the salinity. In low latitudes the halocline usually represents a decrease in salinity with increasing depth; in high latitudes it may represent the opposite.