James Partain, science and operations officer at the Marine Prediction Center (part of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction) in Camp Springs, Md., replies:

"The earth's atmosphere contains two major 'jet streams' (one in each hemisphere). They have considerable impact on human affairs. As we often hear during the weather segment of the nightly news, the jet streams are related to weather patterns of high and low pressure. And airline pilots are well aware of the consequences of being in or near the jet stream in an aircraft. Detailed knowledge of the jet stream--its location, altitude and strength--is therefore critical to modern-day weather forecasting, as well as to more specific applications such as the safe and efficient routing of aircraft.

"By way of definition, a jet in fluid dynamics is simply a core (or 'stream') of fluid moving at a higher velocity than the surrounding fluid. Although they are complicated to describe mathematically, the jet streams in the atmosphere are a straightforward, natural result of the meridional (that is, equator-to-pole) temperature gradient in the earth's atmosphere. Analogous flows exist on other planets with substantial atmospheres having similar temperature gradients.

"The temperature gradient derives from the differential solar heating of the spherical surface of a planet: the surface is generally warmest at the equator and grows progressively cooler as one moves poleward. The centrifugal effects of the earth's rotation, often called the Coriolis force, deflect the north-south transport of heat from the equator to the poles into the predominantly east-west motion of the jet stream. The relative strength, or velocity, of the jet stream is proportional to the intensity of this thermal gradient. During the winter months, when the equator-to-pole temperature disparity is at its greatest, the jet stream reaches its maximum velocity. During the summer months, when the temperature gradient between the equator and the pole is considerably less (only about half the winter value), the jet stream reaches its minimum velocity.

"The altitude of the jet stream is a function of the vertical and horizontal distribution of temperature in the earth's atmosphere. You may recall that the earth's atmosphere is broken into several layers, or 'spheres.' The troposphere (in Latin, literally the 'turning' or 'changing' sphere) is the lowest layer of the earth's atmosphere, ranging in depth from around nine kilometers at the poles to around 16 kilometers at the equator. Within the troposphere, the temperature decreases with altitude, at a rate of approximately seven degrees Celsius per kilometer. Starting where the troposphere leaves off, the stratosphere (literally the 'layered' sphere) extends to an altitude of roughly 45 to 50 kilometers. Temperatures within the stratosphere increase with height, a phenomenon known as a temperature inversion. The transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere, called the tropopause, represents the coldest point of the troposphere. It is at this level, just under the tropopause, that the jet stream resides.

"As can be seen on high-altitude weather maps, the jet stream does not maintain a straight, zonal flow from west to east but rather takes on a more serpentine look, often with dramatic dips to the south or rises to the north. There are two major reasons for these nonzonal motions: the temperature gradient between the equator and the poles and the presence of land masses on the earth's surface.

"The meridional temperature gradient between the equator and poles that gives rise to the jet stream also produces secondary atmospheric circulations, or eddies. These eddies, referred to by meteorologists as 'baroclinic waves,' have a complex interaction with the jet stream. The eddies modify the distribution of temperature and kinetic energy within the atmosphere, a process that has a pronounced effect on the location and movement of the jet stream. And the jet stream itself interacts with these waves, not only as a transport or steering mechanism but also in the transfer of momentum and energy back to the waves.

4 Comments

1. 1. Dave Weston 07:53 PM 12/12/07

   There appears to be an error in paragraph 3, page one:"east-west" movement. if so will this be corrected? Thanks!

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2. 2. vik1234 09:09 AM 7/13/09

   I also thing this will be WEST -EAST movement

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3. 3. MeterologyWhizKid 05:50 PM 10/13/12

   In the context of this article, he is not discussing the "flow" of air being from west to east. He is simply stating that air that would normally flow vertically in a north-south direction, is affected by the Coriolis Force and changes the pattern of travel to a horizontal line of motion, represented by west-east. If he were referencing the flow then east - to - west would be appropriate. But as I stated, I believe it is only meant to represent the change from vertical to horizontal in the movement of said air. Hope this helps.

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4. 4. MeterologyWhizKid 05:53 PM 10/13/12

   Thanks for the information Mr. Partain.

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