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WHAT ARE KISSING JETS?

METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY

A time that the atmosphere gets romantic is when jet streams kiss. Seriously, what it means is that a jet streak from the subtropical branch of the jet stream overrides a jet streak from the polar jet stream. Very strong uplift can occur when two divergence sectors of each jet streak overlap each other. An example is the left front quadrant of the subtropical jet streak overlapping the right rear quadrant of a polar jet streak. The subtropical jet tends to be at a higher altitude than the polar jet stream thus jet streaks can overlap through a relatively deep layer of the troposphere. Intense cyclogenesis can occur when jets kiss. This situation is best analyzed at 300 mb. Look for the subtropical jet stream merging with the polar jet stream. Where they merge is the region kissing jets can occur.