What is a jet stream 5th grade?
The jet stream is a series of fast flowing air currents that can push air masses to other areas and influence weather patterns. A front is where two air masses of different densities meet. This can result in a cold front, cold air replacing the warm air, or a warm front, warm air replacing the cold air.
What is the definition of jet stream for kids?
Kids Definition of jet stream : high-speed winds blowing from a westerly direction several miles above the earth’s surface. More from Merriam-Webster on jet stream.
What is jet stream in simple words?
Jet streams are currents of air high above the Earth. They move eastward at altitudes of about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles). They form where large temperature differences exist in the atmosphere. Jet streams are air currents in the highest part of the atmosphere.
How do you describe a jet stream?
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow, meandering, air currents in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. On Earth, the main jet streams are located near the altitude of the tropopause and are westerly winds (flowing west to east).
How jet streams are formed for kids?
So when Earth’s warmer air masses meet cooler air masses, the warmer air rises up higher in the atmosphere while cooler air sinks down to replace the warm air. This movement creates an air current, or wind. A jet stream is a type of air current that forms high in the atmosphere.
What are jet streams one word?
The Short Answer: Jet streams are bands of strong wind that generally blow from west to east all across the globe. They impact weather, air travel and many other things that take place in our atmosphere.
What is the jet stream and how does it work?
Jet streams are relatively narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The winds blow from west to east in jet streams but the flow often shifts to the north and south. Jet streams follow the boundaries between hot and cold air.
What is the jet stream and why is it important?
Jet streams are important because they contribute to worldwide weather patterns and as such, they help meteorologists forecast weather based on their position. In addition, they are important to air travel because flying in or out of them can reduce flight time and fuel consumption.
How many miles per hour does the jet stream move?
A jet stream is a type of air current that forms high in the atmosphere. The Sun heats Earth unevenly, creating masses of colder air near the poles and warmer air near the equator. Credit: NOAA/JPL-Caltech On average, jet streams move at about 110 miles per hour.
Can a plane fly in a jet stream?
Jet streams are found about six to nine miles above the Earth. Airplanes fly at about that same height, so a jet can fly in a jet stream. In fact, when an airplane is flying in the same direction as the stream of air, it can travel very fast and use up less fuel.
Where do jet streams form in the sky?
Jet streams form at the boundaries between hot and cold air masses. A jet stream can be thousands of miles long and a couple of hundred miles across, but you don’t feel a jet stream because it’s high up in the sky. Jet streams are found about six to nine miles above the Earth.
Why are jet streams important to the US?
Jet streams are important because they affect our weather. If we look at the polar jet stream that flows across the U.S., we see areas of cooler air and lower air pressure developing in the dips.