Baroclinity
In
fluid dynamics, the
baroclinity is a measure of the
stratification in a fluid.
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.