Construct · 1 fields · 1 citations

pycnocline: a standalone construct

One name. One construct. A landmark on the map.

● anchor · the layer where water density rises fast with depth Nearest construct by meaning·not indexed
pycnocline1 CONSTRUCTPycnoclinePICKARD & EMERY · DPO

A single standalone construct; nearby constructs are located against it in the Collider. Tap a field for its definition, unit, and measures.

Physical oceanography

The vertical density step that holds the water column in layers

A pycnocline is the depth interval across which seawater density increases rapidly, set by the combined effect of temperature decreasing (the thermocline) and salinity changing (the halocline) with depth. Pickard and Emery's Descriptive physical oceanography treats it as the stable core of ocean stratification: because lighter water sits firmly over denser water there, the pycnocline strongly suppresses vertical mixing and must be eroded before surface and deep waters can exchange. The referent is the layer of maximum density gradient, and its strength governs how readily nutrients are resupplied to the surface and how deep wind-driven turbulence can reach.[1]

Unit
The depth and strength of the layer of maximum density increase with depth
Recovery means
Not applicable
Measured by
Derived from density (sigma-t) computed over a CTD profile, taken as the zone of maximum vertical density gradient and buoyancy frequency

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Nearby constructs

thermocline1 fields · 1 citationsanchor · the layer where temperature drops fast with depthdensity4 fields · 6 citationsjingle · one word, four constructs

References

  1. Pickard, G. L., & Emery, W. J. (1995). Descriptive physical oceanography: An introduction (5th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 9780750627597

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