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Aircraft observations near jet streams
Author(s) -
Briggs J.,
Roach W. T.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708938004
Subject(s) - jet stream , jet (fluid) , baroclinity , environmental science , turbulence , wind shear , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , geology , streams , wind speed , climatology , mechanics , physics , computer network , computer science
The results of an analysis of 22 flights through jet streams by aircraft of the Meteorological Research Flight are presented. The average distributions of wind speed, vertical and horizontal wind shear, potential temperature, water vapour, cirrus cloud and ozone are obtained in relation to the jet core, and are discussed in relation to existing literature on jet streams. A particular feature observed on a few flights was the apparent protrusion of a tongue of stratospheric air contained within well‐marked frontal boundaries into the baroclinic zone found below and on the low‐pressure side of the jet core. Occurrences of high‐level turbulence are related to various parameters, and the primary importance of vertical wind shear indicated. It is suggested that clear‐air turbulence may play a major role in the erosion and eventual disruption of this upper frontal zone.