Jet streams are fast-moving air currents located 5 to 9 miles above the Earth’s surface, formed at the boundaries of warm and cold air masses. There are four primary jet streams, two in polar regions and two subtropical ones, all traveling west to east. Rossby waves play a crucial role in these jet streams, influencing weather patterns and impacting numerical weather prediction. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves in Europe in 2003, 2010, and 2015, have been linked to these waves, which can stall weather systems and lead to crises like floods and droughts, exemplified by events in 2018. A 2020 study suggested that Rossby waves could threaten global food security by potentially reducing crop production in vital regions by up to 11%.
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