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Baroclinity

A measure of the stratification in a fluid, baroclinity is proportional to <math>\nabla p \times \nabla \rho</math>, 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.



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