When Will the Jet Stream Move?

A new study finds that the jet stream could shift outside the bounds of its historic range within just a few decades — by the year 2060 or so — under a strong warming scenario. The findings were published last week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

How often does the jet stream move?

However, between 1979 and 2001, the average position of the jet stream moved northward at a rate of 2.01 kilometres (1.25 mi) per year across the Northern Hemisphere.

What makes the jet stream move?

The earth's rotation is responsible for the jet stream as well. The motion of the air is not directly north and south but is affected by the momentum the air has as it moves away from the equator. The reason has to do with momentum and how fast a location on or above the Earth moves relative to the Earth's axis.