Jet streams are currents of air that flow around the earth at very high altitudes. These fast flowing, narrow air currents can be found in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The four main jet streams are:
1) The polar jet stream – This is the strongest and most well-known jet stream. It flows from west to east across the north polar region and is responsible for much of the weather we see in North America and Europe.
2) The sub-polar jet stream – This jet stream flows from west to east across the southern polar region. It is not as strong as the polar jet stream but can still have an impact on weather patterns in South America, Africa, and Australia.
3) The subtropical jet stream – This is a weaker jet stream that flows from west to east across the planet between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It can impact weather patterns in Asia, Africa, and Australia.
4) The equatorial jet stream – This is the weakest of all thejet streams and it flows around the earth near the equator from east to west. It has very little impact on global weather patterns.