baroclinicadj.
/barəˈklɪnɪk/ Meteorology.
Characterized by or associated with an atmospheric condition in which surfaces of constant pressure intersect with those of constant density. Cf. barotropic adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > movements and pressure conditions > [adjective] > pressure intersecting or coinciding with density
baroclinic1921
barotropic1921
1921 V. Bjerknes in Geofysiske Publikationer II. iv. 2 In all cases of well-defined curves of intersection and unit tubes, we shall call the field of mass baroclinic. In the case of degeneration we shall call it barotropic.
1934 D. Brunt Physical & Dynamical Meteorol. viii. 166 In the baroclinic fluid pressure is not determined by density alone, and is in part determined by other factors such as temperature or water-vapour content.
1944 Jrnl. Meteorol. 1 18/2 A baroclinic westerly current is dynamically unstable for waves whose level of nondivergence is sufficiently low and tends to make these waves grow strong.
1968 Sci. Jrnl. Nov. 40/3 This instability, called baroclinic instability,..was not discovered until the late 1940s.
1971 Observatory 91 54 The Earth's rotation..constrains the convective flow to take the form of quasi-horizontal waves (‘baroclinic waves’ or ‘sloping convection’).
1975 Nature 30 Oct. 778/2 As in the terrestrial and Martian systems, baroclinic instability again seems to be the primary energy conversion process [in the atmosphere of Jupiter].
1982 R. G. Barry & R. J. Chorley Atmosphere, Weather & Climate (ed. 4) iii. 144 Eventually the flow becomes unstable in the Hadley mode, breaking down into a number of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. This phenomenon is referred to as baroclinic instability.
Derivatives
baroˈclinically adv. in a baroclinic manner; as regards baroclinicity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > movements and pressure conditions > [adverb] > in a baroclinic or barotropic manner
baroclinically1950
barotropically1950
1950 Tellus II. 253/2 The baroclinically calculated height falls on the east side of the trough are more favorable.
1969 Jrnl. Atmospheric Sci. 26 370/1 Major stabilization occurs for the short, baroclinically active waves.
1978 Jrnl. Atmospheric Sci. 10 Aug. 576/2 Studies so far on monsoon cyclogenesis have shown that the monsoon atmosphere is not baroclinically unstable.
barocliˈnicity n. the condition of being baroclinic; the extent to which a region is baroclinic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > movements and pressure conditions > [noun] > atmospheric pressure > pressure intersecting or coinciding with density
barotropy1921
baroclinicity1947
baroclinity1951
1947 Jrnl. Meteorol. 4 137/1 These phenomena..are not explainable in terms of a barotropic atmosphere. They may, therefore, be attributed to the vertical shear of the zonal wind, i.e., to the baroclinicity of the atmosphere.
1973 Nature 21 Sept. 133/1 It seems probable, but less certain, that the colder tropical troposphere was associated also with a reduced baroclinicity.
baroˈclinity n. = baroclinicity n. above.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > movements and pressure conditions > [noun] > atmospheric pressure > pressure intersecting or coinciding with density
barotropy1921
baroclinicity1947
baroclinity1951
1951 B. Haurwitz in T. F. Malone Compendium Meteorol. 403/1 The significance of the distinction between barotropy and baroclinity for the variation of the circulation of a fluid.
1967 R. W. Fairbridge Encycl. Atmospheric Sci. & Astrogeol. 112/1 Since the baroclinity complicates the dynamic calculations, a barotropic condition is sometimes assumed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1993; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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adj.1921