Just like a panting chihuahua and a hot dog , the jet stream and the Gulf Stream can be easy immix up but are very different .
The cat valium stream – or , more accurately , super C streams – are fast - act electric current of aura flowing from west to east around the earth , while the Gulf Stream is a specific sea stream of drifting saltwater . The two force out are driven by differences in temperature and the Earth ’s twist , plus they both touch weather across a wide part of the world , yet they run in very different ways .
To simplify massively these two extremely complex processes : jet streams are the movement of melody and the Gulf Stream is the movement of water .
A map of the Atlantic Ocean, showing the movement of water associated with the Gulf Stream.Image credit: Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock.com
Jet streams = air
Jet streamsconsist of firm wind currents in the upper grade of the atmosphere around 9,100 measure ( 30,000 foot ) above Earth ’s Earth’s surface .
You ’ll often pick up the remarkable termthejet stream , referring to the northernpolar green streamthat go over the middle to northern latitudes of North America and Europe . However , Earth in reality has four master jet streams : two polar jet streams near the magnetic pole and two subtropic jet stream nearer to the equator .
They travel from Occident to east because of Earth ’s spin and the action of the Coriolis effect . They ’re also driven by heat from the Sun ’s energy : the uneven heating plant of Earth ’s control surface make temperature differences between the equator and the poles , direct to pressure gradients that , combined with Earth ’s rotation , generate these high - altitude tip electric current .
How do jet streams affect airplanes?
aeroplane can vaporize in the jet stream and can employ the band of rapidly stimulate air to “ hitch a ride ” and habituate less energy . This is why an airplane journey from west to eastcan often take less timethan traveling the same route from east to west .
How do jet streams affect weather?
This form of atmospheric circulation has a huge influence on weather condition systems .
The intensity level and office of a jet current can touch on the conditions . In winter month , the temperature difference between the poles and the tropics is groovy , causing the subtropical jet stream to hit further move strength . Thispartially explainswhy the UK is so rainy , especially in the wintertime months , compared to other parts of the existence .
Gulf Stream = water
The Gulf Stream has more to do with ocean convection , as oppose to atmosphere move , although there are overlaps .
The Gulf Stream refers to a specific “ conveyor belt ” of moving water that originates amid the tropical affectionateness of the Gulf of Mexico ( or should we saythe Gulf of Americanow ? ) . The water rides the east slide of North America and moves across the North Atlantic , finally hit northern Europe , before recirculating to other component part of the world ’s oceans .
The Gulf Stream is driven by wind patterns gasconade from west to eastward across the Atlantic Ocean , as well as Earth ’s gyration – hence why it is sometimes fox with jet streams .
It ’s also under the influence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation ( AMOC ) , a orotund - scale ocean circulation driven by differences in temperature and coarseness . As warm equatorial waters flow toward the celestial pole , they chill and evaporate , increase salinity . This results in denser water that sinks into the ocean depths , go slowly until it resurfaces through a process known as “ upwelling . ”
By convey quick weewee north across the Atlantic , it help make Western Europe ’s climate milder than you ’d expect for its latitude ( although some trust that ’s a moment of an oversimplification and argue thatatmospheric wind pattern are the chief perpetrator ) .
The current moves withan average speedof 6.4 kilometers per hour ( 4 miles per hour ) . That articulate , there is emerging evidence that the Gulf Stream hasslowed down significantlyover the past four decades , very likely because of clime change .
Some scientist are speculatingthat the AMOC , the major forcefulness underpinning the Gulf Stream , could experience some form of collapse in the next few decades . However , the science is n’t fully settle and complex systems like this are notoriously tricksy to predict with infrangible certainty .
