The fast, narrow band of wind called the jet stream runs along the top of the troposphere.

Quick Scoop: What runs along the top of the troposphere?

At the upper edge of the troposphere, near the boundary called the tropopause, a powerful “river of air” circles the globe: the jet stream. It marks the transition between the turbulent, weather-filled troposphere below and the more stable stratosphere above.

Key facts

  • The jet stream is a narrow, fast-moving band of wind high in the atmosphere.
  • It flows near the top of the troposphere, close to the tropopause boundary.
  • Commercial jets often fly near this region to take advantage of tailwinds and save fuel.

If you imagine Earth’s atmosphere as layered like a cake, the jet stream is the high-speed icing line right at the top of the lowest layer.

TL;DR: The jet stream runs along the top of the troposphere, right by the tropopause.

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