The Polar Jet Stream
You've seen how atmospheric convection currents create low- and high-pressure systems at specific latitudes. At 0° and 60° N and S low-pressure systems are common. At 30° and 90° N and S high-pressure systems are
common.
But the band of Earth's surface between 30° and 60° N and S is not determined by convection currents. Rather, this band is controlled by the atmospheric currents both north and south.
Something interesting happens at 60°. Iwo circulation systems rub against each other. Cold air from the middle band (30°-60°) meets warm air from the adjacent band (60°-90°). And this boundary creates the polar jet stream. The polar jet stream is a narrow band of strong wind in the upper atmosphere.
How does the Polar Jet Stream impact air travel from west coast to east coast? One sentence.