What is a baroclinic zone?

Question

I heard my meteorology professor talking about it, but I don't know what it is.

Answer 1

A baroclinic zone is simply a pressure gradient on a constant pressure surface.  Since pressure varies relatively little on the surface of the earth, you can think of a baroclinic zone as places where there is a horizontal temperature gradient.  Cold and warm fronts are the most common example.  But baroclinic zones can also occur frequently in coastal areas or where the temperature difference between land and water is significant, or even over ocean currents where the current is either warmer or colder than the surrounding ocean water.  Baroclinic zones are important because they create instability and convergence which give way to precipitation and ultimately the development of low pressure systems such as Nor'easters.

Answer 2

baroclinic zone is a region in which a temperature gradient exists on a constant pressure surface. Baroclinic zones are favored areas for strengthening and weakening systems; barotropic systems, on the other hand, do not exhibit significant changes in intensity. Also, wind shear is characteristic of a baroclinic zone.