Baroclinic
Published: March 30, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: December 21, 2011, 10:54 am
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
C Michael Hogan
The term baroclinic descriptive of an an atmosphere or ocean in which surfaces of pressure and density intersect at some level or levels. The state of the real atmosphere and ocean, as opposed to barotropic. In a baroclinically stratified fluid total potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy. The noun form of this phenomenon is termed baroclinity.
Baroclinic flow, in oceanography, is the vertically varying circulation associated with horizontal inhomogeneities in the stratification of the oceans.
Baroclinicity vector
The baroclinicity vector is a quantity that can be derived from the vorticity equation and expressed as:
Image:Img33.png
where ρ is the density and p the pressure. This equation indicates a tendency to generate vorticity whenever density surfaces are inclined to pressure surfaces.
See Also
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This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
Further Reading
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Marshall, J., and R.A. Plumb. 2007. Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics. Academic Press,
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Holton, J. R., 1992: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 3d edition, Academic Press, p. 77.
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Charney, J. G. 1947. The dynamics of long waves in a baroclinic westerly current. J. Meteor., 4, 135-162
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Physical Oceanography Index
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Citation
Steve Baum (Lead Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Baroclinic". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 30, 2010; Last revised Date December 21, 2011; Retrieved May 22, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/articles/view/150424/Earth's_tmosphere/>
The Author
Assistant Research Scientist, Physical Section
Department of Oceanography
Texas A&M University ... (Full Bio)
The term baroclinic descriptive of an an atmosphere or ocean in which surfaces of pressure and density intersect at some level or levels. The state of the real atmosphere and ocean, as opposed to barotropic. In a baroclinically stratified fluid total potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy. The noun form of this phenomenon is termed baroclinity.
Baroclinic flow, in oceanography, is the vertically varying circulation associated with horizontal inhomogeneities in the stratification of the oceans.
Baroclinicity vector
The baroclinicity vector is a quantity that can be derived from the vorticity equation and expressed as:
Image:Img33.png
where ρ is the density and p the pressure. This equation indicates a tendency to generate vorticity whenever density surfaces are inclined to pressure surfaces.
See Also
|
This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
Further Reading
-
Marshall, J., and R.A. Plumb. 2007. Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics. Academic Press,
-
Holton, J. R., 1992: An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology, 3d edition, Academic Press, p. 77.
-
Charney, J. G. 1947. The dynamics of long waves in a baroclinic westerly current. J. Meteor., 4, 135-162
-
Physical Oceanography Index
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
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