• Question: What causes the jet stream to shift positions?

    Asked by to Willem on 17 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Willem Heijltjes

      Willem Heijltjes answered on 17 Mar 2014:

      Hi 11chyeo,

      Firstly, the jet stream shifts around naturally – like the weather, this is not really predictable. Secondly, it moves a lot because of the “El Nino” event – this is when the pacific ocean near South America becomes warmer than usual. Thirdly, the jet stream is affected by global warming. So the floods of the past winters may have been caused by climate events halfway across the world!

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