barotropic
From Glossary of Meteorology
- That part of the velocity field that is either uniform with depth or has zero horizontal component of vorticity.
In a purely barotropic flow, the pressure gradients and the density gradients are parallel so that their cross product, the baroclinic torque vector, is zero. Variations of fluid density are therefore not directly relevant to barotropic motion.
- Of, pertaining to, or characterized by a condition of barotropy.
