Stream

Jet streams are primarily caused by the temperature contrast between polar and tropical air masses. The greater the temperature difference, the stronger and more defined the jet stream becomes. There are typically two main jet streams in each hemisphere: the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream. The polar jet stream flows at lower latitudes, around 30° to 60° north or south of the equator, while the subtropical jet stream is found closer to the equator, around 20° to 30° latitude.

The polar jet stream often guides the path of mid-latitude cyclones, affecting the weather in regions it passes over. Moreover, jet streams are crucial for aviation, as they can either assist or hinder aircraft depending on their direction and speed relative to flight paths.