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Polar Jet Stream

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28 views2 pages

Polar Jet Stream

Uploaded by

lina.tan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polar jet stream

Explaining the polar jet stream to KS3 (Key Stage 3, typically ages 11-14) geography students involves
breaking down the concept into simpler terms while covering its significance and effects. Here’s how
you can explain it:

### Explanation of Polar Jet Stream:

1. **Definition:**

- The polar jet stream is a fast-flowing, narrow air current in the upper atmosphere, typically found
at around 7-12 kilometers above the Earth's surface.

- It forms where cold polar air meets warmer air from lower latitudes.

2. **Formation:**

- During winter, the temperature difference between the cold polar regions and warmer mid-
latitudes is significant.

- This temperature gradient causes strong winds to develop in the upper troposphere and lower
stratosphere.

- These winds become the polar jet stream, flowing from west to east due to the rotation of the
Earth (Coriolis effect) and temperature contrasts.

3. **Characteristics:**

- **Location:** Located around 50-60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres.

- **Speed:** Flows at speeds of around 200-300 kilometers per hour.

- **Width:** Several hundred kilometers wide but relatively narrow compared to other
atmospheric features.

4. **Importance and Effects:**

- **Weather Patterns:** Influences weather systems by steering storms and determining their
paths.

- **Air Travel:** Affects air travel routes and flight times—aircraft can benefit from tailwinds when
flying with the jet stream.

- **Climate:** Plays a role in redistributing heat and moisture around the globe, affecting climate
patterns.
### Simplified Example:

Imagine a fast-moving river of air high in the sky, like a highway for airplanes. The polar jet stream is
like this river but in the atmosphere. It flows very fast from west to east, pushing weather systems
like storms along with it. This fast flow is caused by the differences in temperature between the cold
polar regions and the warmer areas further south.

### Key Points for KS3 Geography:

- **Location:** Found around 50-60 degrees latitude in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres.

- **Cause:** Formed by the temperature difference between polar regions and mid-latitudes.

- **Effects:** Influences weather patterns and air travel, playing a crucial role in global climate.

By simplifying the explanation and using relatable analogies, students can better understand the
polar jet stream and its significance in shaping global weather and climate patterns.

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