TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
THERMOHALINE [7 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2023-05-31
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Oceanography
- Climate Change
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- thermohaline convection
1, record 1, English, thermohaline%20convection
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Thermohaline convection is a wellknown process in oceanography : warm salted layers on the top of cool unsalted ones rapidly diffuse downwards even in the presence of stabilizing temperature gradients, due to the different diffusivities of heat and salt. When a warm salted blob falls down in cool fresh water, the heat diffuses out more quickly than the salt. The blob goes on falling due to its weight until it mixes with the surroundings... 1, record 1, English, - thermohaline%20convection
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Océanographie
- Changements climatiques
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- convection thermohaline
1, record 1, French, convection%20thermohaline
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
En réponse aux gradients du champ de densité de surface, de grandes cellules convectives se développent dans l'océan. Elles sont à l'origine d'une importante redistribution méridienne de chaleur et de substances chimiques. Les forçages de chaleur et d'eau douce en surface agissent de façon antagoniste sur la densité et sur la circulation résultante, dite circulation thermohaline. Cette compétition entre les effets thermiques et salins autorise plusieurs modes opératoires de la convection thermohaline. 2, record 1, French, - convection%20thermohaline
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Oceanografía
- Cambio climático
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- convección termohalina
1, record 1, Spanish, convecci%C3%B3n%20termohalina
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Movimientos verticales del agua marina producidos por cambios en la temperatura y en la salinidad de las capas superiores. 1, record 1, Spanish, - convecci%C3%B3n%20termohalina
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Cuando la capa superior [de agua marina] se hace más pesada que las capas subyacentes, se provoca un desequilibrio vertical. 1, record 1, Spanish, - convecci%C3%B3n%20termohalina
Record 2 - internal organization data 2020-05-26
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Hydrology and Hydrography
- Oceanography
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- deep water
1, record 2, English, deep%20water
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The oceans are mostly composed of warm salty water near the surface over cold, less salty water in the ocean depths. These two regions don’t mix except in certain special areas. The ocean currents, the movement of the ocean in the surface layer, are driven mostly by the wind. In certain areas near the polar oceans, the colder surface water also gets saltier due to evaporation or sea ice formation. In these regions, the surface water becomes dense enough to sink to the ocean depths. This pumping of surface water into the deep ocean forces the deep water to move horizontally until it can find an area on the world where it can rise back to the surface and close the current loop. This usually occurs in the equatorial ocean, mostly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This very large, slow current is called the thermohaline circulation because it is caused by temperature and salinity(haline) variations. 2, record 2, English, - deep%20water
Record 2, Key term(s)
- deep waters
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
- Océanographie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- eau profonde
1, record 2, French, eau%20profonde
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Eau de mer dérivant et circulant à des profondeurs comprises entre 2 000 et 4 000 m. 2, record 2, French, - eau%20profonde
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
eau profonde : désignation habituellement utilisée au pluriel. 3, record 2, French, - eau%20profonde
Record 2, Key term(s)
- eaux profondes
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Hidrología e hidrografía
- Oceanografía
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- aguas profundas
1, record 2, Spanish, aguas%20profundas
correct, feminine noun, plural
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Aguas cuya profundidad supera la semilongitud de onda de las olas. 2, record 2, Spanish, - aguas%20profundas
Record 3 - internal organization data 2014-04-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Oceanography
- Hydrology and Hydrography
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- ocean conveyor belt
1, record 3, English, ocean%20conveyor%20belt
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The theoretical route by which water circulates around the entire global ocean, driven by wind and the thermohaline circulation. 1, record 3, English, - ocean%20conveyor%20belt
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Océanographie
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- tapis roulant océanique
1, record 3, French, tapis%20roulant%20oc%C3%A9anique
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Itinéraire théorique de la circulation de l'eau autour du globe, sous l'effet des vents et de la circulation thermohaline. 1, record 3, French, - tapis%20roulant%20oc%C3%A9anique
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Oceanografía
- Hidrología e hidrografía
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- cinta transportadora oceánica
1, record 3, Spanish, cinta%20transportadora%20oce%C3%A1nica
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Vía teórica por la que circula el agua en todos los océanos de la Tierra, impulsada por los vientos y la circulación termohalina. 1, record 3, Spanish, - cinta%20transportadora%20oce%C3%A1nica
Record 4 - internal organization data 2013-12-12
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Climatology
- Climate Change
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- rapid climate change
1, record 4, English, rapid%20climate%20change
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The non-linearity of the climate system may lead to rapid climate change... Some such abrupt events may be imaginable, such as a dramatic reorganization of the thermohaline circulation, rapid deglaciation, or massive melting of permafrost leading to fast changes in the carbon cycle. Others may be truly unexpected, as a consequence of a strong, rapidly changing, forcing of a non-linear system. 1, record 4, English, - rapid%20climate%20change
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Climatologie
- Changements climatiques
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- changement climatique rapide
1, record 4, French, changement%20climatique%20rapide
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La non-linéarité du système climatique peut conduire à des changements climatiques rapides [...] On peut imaginer certains de ces phénomènes abrupts, par exemple une réorganisation fondamentale de la circulation thermohaline, une déglaciation rapide, ou une fonte massive du pergélisol entraînant des changements rapides du cycle du carbone. D'autres peuvent être véritablement inattendus, et résulter du forçage puissant, à évolution rapide, d'un système non linéaire. 1, record 4, French, - changement%20climatique%20rapide
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2010-12-23
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Oceanography
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- thermohaline circulation
1, record 5, English, thermohaline%20circulation
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The large-scale density-driven circulation in the ocean, caused by differences in temperature and salinity. 2, record 5, English, - thermohaline%20circulation
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Océanographie
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- circulation thermohaline
1, record 5, French, circulation%20thermohaline
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Circulation à grande échelle régie par la densité dans les océans causée par des différences de température et de salinité. 2, record 5, French, - circulation%20thermohaline
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Oceanografía
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- circulación termohalina
1, record 5, Spanish, circulaci%C3%B3n%20termohalina
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
- corriente termohalina 1, record 5, Spanish, corriente%20termohalina
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record 6 - internal organization data 2005-03-24
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Space Physics
- Remote Sensing
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- absorption
1, record 6, English, absorption
correct, officially approved
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The taking up of energy from radiation by the medium through which the radiation is passing. 2, record 6, English, - absorption
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Interactions between sea-ice, ocean and atmosphere at high latitudes strongly affect the Earth's climate system. These effects include absorption and emission of radiant energy, poleward flux of heat, and modification of ocean density structure that modulates thermohaline circulation. 3, record 6, English, - absorption
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
absorption: term officially approved by the RADARSAT-2 Terminology Approval Group (RTAG). 4, record 6, English, - absorption
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Physique spatiale
- Télédétection
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- absorption
1, record 6, French, absorption
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Phénomène par lequel un corps solide, liquide ou gazeux, retient la totalité ou une fraction seulement d'un flux d'énergie ou de particules. 2, record 6, French, - absorption
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Bien que la télédétection passe par les fenêtres atmosphériques, elle est néanmoins quelque peu perturbée par la diffusion et l'absorption dans l'atmosphère. 3, record 6, French, - absorption
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
absorption : terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de la terminologie de RADARSAT-2 (GTTR). 4, record 6, French, - absorption
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física espacial
- Teledetección
Record 6, Main entry term, Spanish
- absorción
1, record 6, Spanish, absorci%C3%B3n
correct, feminine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 6, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 2002-10-16
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Oceanography
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics (Physics)
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- thermohaline
1, record 7, English, thermohaline
correct, adjective
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Pertaining to the joint activity of salinity and temperature in the oceans. 2, record 7, English, - thermohaline
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Océanographie
- Mécanique des fluides et hydraulique (Physique)
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- thermohalin
1, record 7, French, thermohalin
correct, adjective
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Qualifie ce qui a trait à la fois à la température et à la salinité. 2, record 7, French, - thermohalin
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Circulation thermohaline. 2, record 7, French, - thermohalin
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Oceanografía
- Mecánica de fluidos e hidráulica (Física)
Record 7, Main entry term, Spanish
- termohalino
1, record 7, Spanish, termohalino
adjective
Record 7, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 7, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: