Polar-Front jet stream...Geography?

Question

How does the polar-front jet stream affect the movement of air masses? Im really confused. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot! ;o)

Answer 1

Actually it is a difficult concept, sort of like the "chicken-and-the-egg" paradox.  The jet streams tend to move along with the air masses as well, since jet streams basically are driven by sharp temperature gradients.  Thus it is difficult to say whether the air mass moved because the jet stream moved, or the jet stream moved because the airmass moved.  I tend to favor the latter, as cold air spreading out at the surface does not need the jet stream to move it, but it moves by it's own density.  Of course jet streams are usually mid-atmospheric phenomenon, but again exist where strong temperature gradients exist.