THE ARCTIC STRATOSPHERIC JET STREAM DURING THE WINTER OF 1955–1956

Abstract

The existence of an Arctic stratospheric jet stream in winter, hitherto largely inferred from mean geostrophic wind sections, is considered on the basis of actual winds for the Canadian Arctic area during the winter of 1955?1956. Temperatures at the 100-millibar level at a number of stations over the Canadian Arctic were examined to throw light on the intensely baroclinic zone below the jet stream. Meridional movements and intensity changes of the jet stream during this winter, as inferred from a statistical study of the 100-mb temperature field, are in accord with the conventional view that the jet stream is maintained by differential radiational heating and cooling of the ozone layer across the boundary of polar night.