A study of plane thermal-buoyant jets is presented. Experiments were conducted in water, and the results are compared with two integral models, namely a buoyant jet model and a thermal jet model. In the buoyant jet model the equation of state is linear, while in the thermal jet model the equation of state is nonlinear. It is concluded that the buoyant jet model does not adequately predict the behaviour of thermal buoyant jets in a cold water environment. For such flows it is necessary to use the actual equation of state for water.