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Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmosphere at around 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) above the surface of Earth. They form at the boundaries of adjacent air masses with significant differences in temperature, such as the polar and tropical regions. Jet streams are typically westerly winds in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but they can also blow from other directions.

The strongest jet streams are the polar jets, which are located near the tropopause, the boundary between the troposphere (the lowest layer of the atmosphere) and the stratosphere. These jets can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour) and are often associated with significant weather events, such as storms and fronts.

Jet streams are influenced by the Coriolis effect, which is the deflection of moving objects due to the Earth's rotation. This effect causes jet streams to flow from west to east in both hemispheres. Jet streams can also meander and form waves, which can influence weather patterns and cause phenomena such as Rossby waves.

Jet streams play a crucial role in weather patterns and climate. They can steer weather systems and influence the development of storms and other weather events. Changes in jet stream patterns can also contribute to long-term climate changes, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon.

Jet streams are typically invisible to the naked eye, but their effects can be observed in the movement of clouds and other atmospheric phenomena. They are studied using various methods, including weather balloons, satellites, and computer models. Understanding jet streams is essential for weather forecasting, aviation, and climate research.