Jet Streams YouTube Lecture Handouts

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Jet Streams - Formation & 3 Types in Climatology

Jet Streams

Dr. Manishika Jain explains what are monsoons, the different monsoon regions of the world and formation of monsoons.

Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow, meandering air currents found in the atmosphere of some planets, including Earth. On Earth, the main jet streams are located near the altitude of the tropopause and are westerly winds

  • Narrow
  • Cover a wide latitude running north to south
  • Travel winding path
  • Break off into smaller paths and merge
  • Seasons of the year, location of low and high-pressure systems and air temperature affect jet streams.
  • Border between hot and cold air.
  • More active in the winter with wider range of temperatures between Arctic and tropic air masses.
  • Greater the difference in air temperature, the faster the jet stream
  • Reach speeds of up to 402 kmph
  • Average about 177 kmph
  • Jet streams in the north are more forceful.
  • 4 primary jet streams
    • The polar jet streams between the latitudes of 50 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator
    • Subtropical jet streams closer to the equator at latitudes of 20 to 30 degrees.
  • Other jet streams form when wind speeds are above 93.3 kmph in the upper atmosphere at about 9.6 - 14.5 km.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

Illustration: Conservation of Angular Momentum

Jet Streams - Concepts

Formation of Jet Streams

Illustration: Formation of Jet Streams

Manishika