Upper Winds Flashcards
What is thermal wind?
Temperature influences the vertical pressure change, warmer air pressure reduces slowly, this creates a pressure gradient force as wind flows from high to low pressure
What direction does the wind flow around the equator?
Easterly
What must the wind speed be to qualify as a jet stream?
Greater than 60kt
What is the depth, width and length of a jet stream?
2nm deep
200nm across
2000nm long
What are 4 permanent jet streams?
Northern hemisphere: - Polar front jet - Subtropical jet Southern hemisphere: - Subtropical jet - Polar front jet
What are the 2 seasonal jet streams?
- Artic front jet
- Tropical easterly jet
How will the temperature change when flying into polar air below the jet stream?
It will get colder
How will the temperature change when flying into polar air above the jet stream?
It will get warmer
Where is a jet stream located in the air?
At the top of a warm air mass over a cold air mass
What time of year is the artic front jet present?
Winter
What is the height and speed of the artic front jet?
FL200 and 80kt
What time of year is the tropical easterly jet present?
July
What is the height and speed of the tropical easterly jet?
FL500 and up to 100kt
Where would you find the most severe CAT?
On the cold side and just below the core, leading edge of the warm air mass
What jet streams are shown on a SIGWX chart?
Must be in excess of 80kt
