Baroclinity

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It has been suggested that Baroclinic instability and Baroclinic vector be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Density lines and isobars cross in a baroclinic fluid (top). As density is related to temperature, on a surface map, isobars and isotherms cross too

In fluid dynamics, the baroclinity (sometimes called baroclinicity) is a measure of the stratification in a fluid. A baroclinic atmosphere is one for which the density depends on both the temperature and the pressure; contrast this with barotropic atmosphere, for which the density depends only on the pressure. In atmospheric terms, the barotropic zones of the Earth are generally found in the central lattitudes, or tropics, whereas the baroclinic areas are generally found in the mid-lattitude/polar regions.

Baroclinity is proportional to

which again is proportional to the angle between surfaces of constant pressure and surfaces of constant density. Thus, in a barotropic fluid (which is defined by zero baroclinity), these surfaces are parallel.

Areas of high atmospheric baroclinity are characterized by the frequent formation of cyclones.

[edit] See also

• Baroclinic instability
• Baroclinic vector

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