Warm air
in the south
Warm air
moves north
Weak jet stream
Cold air
moves south
Strong jet stream
Cold
polar air
Arctic warming narrows the temperature difference, resulting in a slower jet stream that meanders more. The loops bring extreme weather to lower latitudes
The jet stream forms a boundary between
the cold north and warmer south. The temperature difference between these two areas powers the jet stream to speeds up to 250mph at about 8km above the surface
Normal polar jet stream
Weak polar jet stream
Warm air
in the south
Warm air
moves north
Weak jet stream
Cold air
moves south
Strong jet stream
Cold
polar air
Arctic warming narrows the temperature difference, resulting in a slower jet stream that meanders more. The loops bring extreme weather to lower latitudes
The jet stream forms a boundary between
the cold north and warmer south. The temperature difference between these two areas powers the jet stream to speeds up to 250mph at about 8km above the surface
Normal polar jet stream
Weak polar jet stream