JET STREAM AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIAN MONSOON AND WEATHER
SYSTEM
Dr. Vanlaltanpuia
Jet stream is a band of fast moving air from west to east usually found in
the middle latitudes in the upper troposphere at a height of about 12 km. The
wind speeds in a westerly jet stream are commonly 150 to 300 km p.h. with
extreme values reaching 400 km p.h. Jet stream is one of the latest theory
regarding the origin of the monsoons and has earned world wide acclaim from
the meteorologists. This system works as a cover over the Earth which affects
the weather of the lower atmosphere.
It is driven by air pressure, temperature and moisture differences between
one place and another. The greater the difference in temperature, the faster the
wind velocity inside the jet stream. The path of the stream have a meandering
shape which may start, stop, split into two or more parts, combine into one
stream, or flow in various directions including opposite to the direction of the
remainder of the jet. The main types are the polar jets, the subtropical westerly
jets and the less common tropical easterly jets.
Jet Stream play an important role in the possible formation, steering or
intensifying weather phenomena such as monsoons, cyclones, anti-cyclones and
other weather conditions. The Sub-Tropical Jet stream plays a significant role in
both hindering the monsoon winds as well as in quick onset of Indian
monsoons and weather system.
The burst of monsoons depends upon the upper air circulation which is
dominated by Sub Tropical Jet Streams (STJ). The south west monsoon
coming in India is related to tropical easterly stream. It blows between 8
degree- 35 degree North latitudes. The north east monsoon (winter monsoon)
is related to the subtropical westerly Jet Stream which blows between 20
degree and 35 degree latitudes in both hemispheres.
In winter, STJ flows along the southern slopes of the Himalaya and in
summer shifts northwards dramatically, flowing along the edge of Himalayas
in early June and in late summer (July-August) along the northern edge of the
Tibetan Plateau. The periodic movement of the Jet Stream often indicates the
onset and subsequent withdrawal (STJ returns back to its position – south of
Himalayas) of the monsoon. Northward movement of the subtropical jet is the
first indication of the onset of the monsoon over India.
The winter subtropical westerly Jet Stream blows from the west to the
east in the entire west and middle Asia. It is bifurcated by the Himalayan
ranges and Tibetan Plateau. One of the branch blows parallel to the plateau
from the north while the other moves towards the east in the south of the
Himalayas. The western disturbance which enter the Indian subcontinent in
winter are brought by these westerly winds. The southern branch blows to the
south of the Himalayan ranges along 25° north latitude.
With the beginning of summer, the STJ [upper westerlies] start their
northward march. The weather over northern India becomes hot, dry and
squally due to larger incoming solar radiation and hot winds like loo. Over
India, the Equatorial Trough (ITCZ) moves northwards with the weakening of
the STJ south of Tibet, but the burst of the monsoon does not take place until
the upper air circulation has switched to its summer pattern. By the end of May
the southern jet breaks and later it is diverted to the north of Tibet Plateau.
There is sudden burst of monsoons (the ridge moves northwards into Central
Asia, the high pressure zone over north-west India moves northwards into
Central Asia making way for south-west monsoon winds). The clockwise
cyclic origin in the middle of the troposphere begins in the winds rising up
from the plateau of Tibet after it becomes too hot. While going up separates
near tropopause. One of these blows in the form of the easterly Jet Stream
towards the equator and the other blows in the form of the westerly Jet Stream
towards the poles. Western and eastern jets flow to north & south of
Himalayas respectively. The eastern jet becomes powerful and is stationed at
15° N latitude. The easterly winds become very active in the upper troposphere
and they are associated with westerly winds in the lower troposphere (south-
west monsoon winds). This results in more active southwest monsoon and
heavy rainfall is caused. The plateau of Tibet and central Asia becoming too
hot is considered for its origin.
It is to be noted that the westerly Jet Stream begins to settle down in the
Arabian sea by blowing in the south west direction and also creates a very high
pressure belt there. Inversely, when this hot Jet Stream blows over the Indian
sub continent, it pulls up the surface air and creates a very low pressure there.
To fill up the low pressure, winds from high pressure area of the Arabian Sea
begins to blow towards in the north east direction- known as the southwest
monsoon.
