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MIDDLE SCHOOL

Earth and Space Science

Earth's System

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Earth's System: The Atmosphere

Exploring the Jet Stream

Description

Exploring the Jet Stream

Jet streams are fast-moving ribbons of air that flow high in Earth’s atmosphere, around 8 to 15 kilometers above the surface. They form where warm and cold air masses meet, usually near the boundaries between large weather systems. These winds can reach speeds over 200 k...

Transcript

Jet streams are narrow bands of strong wind that flow high in Earth’s atmosphere, usually about 6 to 9 miles above the surface. These winds can reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.

They form mainly because the Sun heats Earth unevenly, making the equator warmer than the poles.

This temperature difference causes warm air to r...

Tags

Jet StreamAtmospheric WindsTemperature GradientsWeather PatternsClimate ChangeWind Speed MeasurementSatellite Data AnalysisWeather Balloon TrackingAircraft ObservationsCause and Effect