Solenoid (meteorology)

In the context of meteorology, a solenoid is a tube-shaped region in the atmosphere where isobaric (constant pressure) and isopycnal (constant density) surfaces intersect, causing vertical circulation.^[1][2] They are so-named because they are driven by the solenoid term of the vorticity equation.^[3] Examples of solenoids include the sea breeze circulation and the mountain–plains solenoid.^[4][5]