A Jet Stream Runs Through It


cold polar air from warm tropical air.

Unlike the climatological position of the polar front, its day-to-day position and shape can vary in latitude and develop north-south loops in the frontal boundary The streambed of the jet stream can vary widely with these frontal position changes and kinks much like a riverbed develops serpentine bends and meanders. When the flow is mostly west to east, the jet stream is said to be in zonal flow. But the jet can take wild north-south swings as it flows, a condition termed meridional flow.

The position and meanders of the polar front and jet stream are of major importance in defining the weather patterns and conditions over the globe. In the next installment (coming in mid-November), we will look at how the jet stream/polar front affects the weather in North America.

Copyright 2002, Keith C. Heidorn, All Rights Reserved. (Illustrations courtesy of Spectrum Educational Enteprises, ©2002.)

The copyright of the article A Jet Stream Runs Through It in Meteorology is owned by Keith C. Heidorn. Permission to republish A Jet Stream Runs Through It in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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