A distribution of atmospheric pressure and mass such that the specific volume, or density, of air is a function of both pressure and temperature, but not either alone. When the field is baroclinic, solenoids are present, there is a gradient of air temperature on a surface of constant pressure, and there is a vertical shear of the geostrophic wind. Significant development of cyclonic and anticyclonic wind circulations typically occurs only in strongly baroclinic fields. Fronts represent baroclinic fields which are locally very intense.