Jet stream

The polar jet stream can travel at speeds greater than 180 km/h (110 mph). Here, the fastest winds are coloured red; slower winds are blue.

Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmospheres of the Earth,^[1] Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.^[2] On Earth, the main jet streams are located near the altitude of the tropopause and are westerly winds (flowing west to east). Jet streams may start, stop, split into two or more parts, combine into one stream, or flow in various directions including opposite to the direction of the remainder of the jet.^[3]

Meteorologists use the location of some of the jet streams as an aid in weather forecasting. Airlines use them to reduce some flight times and fuel consumption.

^ "jet stream | National Geographic Society". 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Jeremy Hsu (17 October 2008). "One Mystery of Jet Streams Explained". Space.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 168. ISBN 9780850451634.

[1] "jet stream | National Geographic Society". 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[2] Jeremy Hsu (17 October 2008). "One Mystery of Jet Streams Explained". Space.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.

[3] Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 168. ISBN 9780850451634.

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Jet stream

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