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Jet Stream


Notes:

Rising above the surface weather system is a vast system of winds that serves as the boundary between the polar and tropical air. At this level the pressure differences between the warm and cold regions can be significant. In the areas where these differences are the greatest (shown in grey in the maps) extremely strong winds flow – the Jet Stream.

The Jet Stream sits on top of the surface systems steering them and interacting with them.

Note the differences between the summer and winter Jet Streams. The winter jet stream is more intense as are the contrasts between the polar and tropical temps during the winter. Note also that the Jet Stream moves further south in the winter and largely avoids CA during the summer.