New research from the University of Southampton shows that the winter jet stream over the North Atlantic and Eurasia has increased its average speed by 8% to 132 miles per hour. The jet stream, which this week brought storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin to the UK, has also has moved northwards by up to 330 kilometres.
The findings relate to the 141-year period from 1871-2011.
Jet streams are fast bands of air which flow around the globe at about ten thousand metres above Earth’s surface. They have a significant influence on storm activity and temperature patterns across the northern hemisphere which can impact the weather through strong winds and flooding events. This is the longest regional study of the northern hemisphere jet stream and the trends observed are potential indicators of climate change.
The new study, published in Climate Dynamics, provides a comparison of the Northern Hemisphere jet stream across oceans and continents and finds that jet stream trends vary on a regional and seasonal basis. Between 1871 and 2011 the average winter movement in jet stream latitude over the North Atlantic was from 44° to 47° north with a 10 miles per hour increase in speed, but no increases were observed over the North Pacific.
The study was led by Dr. Samantha Hallam, from the Maynooth University in Ireland whilst she was undertaking a PhD at the University of Southampton.
Read more at: University of Southampton
Image of jet stream over the North Atlantic and UK (Photo Credit: Crondallweather.co.uk)