🌬️ Jet Stream Simulator

Rossby Waves · Polar Vortex · Atmospheric Blocking · Subtropical Jet · Weather Patterns

Controls

Season

Rossby wave number — 4 Temperature gradient — 1.0× Jet speed — 1.0× Sim speed — 1×

Blocking high (Ω-block) Show streamlines

Diagnostics

Jet core speed75 m/s

Wave amplitude12°

Blocking index—

Polar vortexStrong

Sim time0 d

Polar jet stream

Subtropical jet

Warm air intrusion

Cold air outbreak

Ω-block

The polar jet stream is a fast ribbon of wind at ~10 km altitude, driven by temperature contrast between the poles and mid-latitudes. Rossby waves — large meanders — carry warm air poleward and cold air equatorward, shaping weather below.