jet stream
C1Academic/Technical/Meteorological
Definition
Meaning
A fast, narrow air current found in the atmosphere at high altitudes, typically near the tropopause.
A metaphor for any powerful, narrow, fast-moving flow or trend that influences surrounding conditions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a compound noun, it's typically hyphenated ('jet-stream') when used attributively before a noun, but this is not universal. In extended use, the space is often dropped ('a cultural jetstream').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. In general discourse, Americans might more readily use the extended metaphorical sense.
Connotations
In both, it connotes speed, power, and a high-altitude, guiding influence. In extended use, it often implies an unstoppable or dominant force.
Frequency
More frequent in UK media due to greater focus on weather reports influencing European conditions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] jet stream is [VERB-ING] over [LOCATION].A shift in the jet stream caused [EVENT].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Caught in the jet stream of change.”
- “Riding the jet stream of success.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The new product launch created a jet stream of positive publicity."
Academic
"The study examines teleconnections between sea surface temperatures and the polar jet stream."
Everyday
"The forecaster said the jet stream is keeping the rain stuck over the country."
Technical
"Analysis of the 300-hPa isotachs reveals a bifurcated jet stream core."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The low-pressure system was jet-streamed across the Atlantic.
American English
- Her career was jet-streamed to stardom after the viral video.
adjective
British English
- We're in for a very jet-stream-influenced winter.
American English
- The jet-stream pattern is highly amplified this week.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The jet stream is a wind high in the sky.
- The weather changes when the jet stream moves north or south.
- A buckling in the polar jet stream allowed freezing air to plunge southwards.
- Climate models project a weakening and poleward shift of the subtropical jet stream under future warming scenarios.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a JET plane flying very high and fast; the jet stream is like a river of wind at that same high, fast level.
Conceptual Metaphor
A RIVER/STREAM IN THE SKY; A GUIDING RAIL/TRACK (for weather systems).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'реактивный поток' (jet propulsion flow) unless in a literal aerospace context. The correct equivalent is 'струйное течение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jet stream' to refer to the exhaust of a jet engine (that's a 'jet blast').
- Confusing it with the 'Gulf Stream' (an ocean current).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a meteorological jet stream?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Planes flying eastbound with a tailwind from the jet stream are faster, while westbound flights against it are slower.
There are typically two major ones in each hemisphere: the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream.
Not directly, but its effects are visible in the high, wispy cirrus clouds that form along its boundaries.
Research suggests climate change may be causing the jet stream to become more wavy and sluggish, leading to more persistent weather patterns like heatwaves and floods.