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.

Baroclinity is proportional to

$\backslash nabla\; p\; \backslash times\; \backslash nabla\; \backslash rho$

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.

fluid dynamics | atmospheric dynamics

Baroklinität | Baroklinitet | Atmosfera baroklinowa