what are baroclinic waves?

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i came across this term while reading about ocean currents. does anyone have any knowledge on this topic?

Here's what a google search got me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rossby_wave

'The terms "barotropic" and "baroclinic" Rossby waves are used to distinguish their vertical structure. Barotropic Rossby waves do not vary in the vertical, and have the fastest propagation speeds. The baroclinic wave modes are slower, with speeds of only a few centimetres per second or less."

thank you. are you studying meteorology? if so, do you know what a rossby wave is? i guess i'll just look it up in wikipedia.

Nope, I'm a business major!

So far, I think this is what causes a Rossby wave: Wikipedia says that it's a type of inertial wave, which can only occur with a restoring force (for instance, when wind makes a wave crest, gravity restores it to equilibrium by pulling it back down). The Coriolis effect is the restoring force for a Rossby wave, but since the Coriolis effect isn't constant (it changes in intensity at different latitudes) some different phenomena occur than with other inertial waves.

Anybody in here who actually knows for certain?