Jet Stream

What is the Jet Stream?

• A narrow belt of high-speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. They can reach up to 500km/hr.

• The jet stream controls the movement of storms. A meteorologist can track a storm if they know the location of the jet stream.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_Superhighway.ogv

The jet stream does not follow a regular path.

Draw a quick outline of the U.S. then draw where you think the Jet Stream is today.

• Where’s the Jet Stream? What’s the air feel like at the letters?

A

B

C

D

E

F

What is the name of the global winds that affect the United States?

They generally blow from ________ to ________.

Because of the global winds called the Westerlies, which always blow from

WEST to EAST.

Our weather in the United States generally moves from

WEST to EAST.

The location of the Jet Stream can also push weather along a curved path from WEST to

EAST.