chemocline

C3H4E1M3O1C3L1I1N1E1

noun

The boundary layer between the mixolimnion and monimolimnion in a meromictic lake (one with permanently stratified layers).

OriginEnglish chemo- ← New Latin chēmīa ← Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ. →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounchemocline (plural chemoclines)

plural chemoclines

  1. The boundary layer between the mixolimnion and monimolimnion in a meromictic lake (one with permanently stratified layers).

    The chemocline fluctuated at depth probably because of seasonal variations of inflows and circulation patterns in the forebay. The depth of the chemocline was shallowest from spring to early summer and deepest during the winter.

    1996, Robert J. Hart, Kent M. Sherman, Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Lake Powell at the Forebay and Outflows of Glen Canyon Dam, Northeastern Arizona, 1990–91, Tucson, Arizona: U.S. Department of the Interior, page 14

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵʰew-
  2. Ancient Greekχῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
  3. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)
  4. Arabicالْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)
  5. Medieval Latinalchēmia
  6. Ancient Greekχυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ.
  7. New Latinchēmīa
  8. Englishchemo-
  9. Englishchemocline

From chemo- + -cline.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

chemocline. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemocline

MLA

“chemocline.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemocline. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chemocline,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chemocline.

Source: chemocline on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.