27 practice questions on Jet Streams with answers and explanations, plus the key concepts and formulas, from the TrueHeading question bank.
Use this page to revise Jet Streams for the DGCA Aviation Meteorology paper. Below are the key ideas first, then 12 practice questions with answers and explanations, picked from the 27 questions in the TrueHeading bank for this topic.
In short: A narrow, fast ribbon of wind of at least 60 kt, usually near the tropopause.
Open the full set in the student zone to answer every question, track your accuracy and take timed mock tests.
4 ideas to know cold.
A narrow, fast ribbon of wind of at least 60 kt, usually near the tropopause.
Where the wind shear is strongest: on the cold (polar) side, below and above the core, and near the tropopause break.
In winter it lies over north India, bringing western disturbances; it shifts north of the Himalaya before the monsoon sets in.
Tip: Winter: subtropical westerly jet. Summer: tropical easterly jet.
A narrow band of strong wind (≥ 60 kt) in the upper troposphere, near the tropopause.
Tap “Show answer” after you have tried each one.
Answer: C. 60 kt
ICAO/WMO define a jet stream as a strong narrow current with speeds of 60 kt (30 m/s) or more.
Answer: D. FL300 (near the tropopause at mid-latitudes)
The jet forms above the polar front where the temperature gradient is strongest.
Answer: C. in winter
The temperature contrast between equator and pole is greater in winter.
Answer: D. near the jet stream core on the cold-air (polar) side, in strong shear
Strong wind shear at the edges of the jet, especially on the cold side near a trough.
Answer: D. narrow fast-moving current of air in the upper troposphere or lower stratosphere
Typically thousands of km long, hundreds of km wide and a few km deep.
Answer: C. 25° to 30° latitude
The subtropical jet lies above the poleward edge of the Hadley cell; the polar front jet is around 50–60°.
Answer: C. late May to early June, helping the monsoon onset
The retreat of the westerly jet from the Indian region to north of the Tibetan Plateau coincides with the monsoon onset.
Answer: C. summer (monsoon season)
The tropical easterly jet at about 150 hPa (14 km) occurs during the south-west monsoon.
Answer: B. from west to east in mid-latitudes
Westerly jets in mid and subtropical latitudes.
Answer: B. increased ground speed
A strong tailwind increases ground speed.
Answer: D. cirrus streaks aligned with the wind
Long cirrus bands (and cirrus with a sharp edge) lie along the jet axis.
Answer: D. above and below the core of the jet stream
Wind speed decreases rapidly above and below the core.
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