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The Greenland tip jet is a sporadic, low-level atmospheric jet stream
characterized by fierce winds on the lee side of Cape Farewell on the
southern tip of Greenland. As storms pass through from the southwest,
high-level winds descend the glacial slopes on the eastern side of
Greenland, accelerating as they drop down over the ocean. In the
process, they draw cold air into a relatively small area over the
southern Irminger Sea. This phenomenon appears to play a critical role
in chilling North Atlantic waters so that they sink to great depths and
drive part of the global ocean circulation and climate system. Using
NOAA's QuikSCAT satellite, MIT/WHOI Joint Program graduate
student Kjetil Våge compiled this image of a tip jet on Dec. 5,
2002. Color indicates wind speeds in meters per second; arrows indicate
wind direction.
(Courtesy of Kjetil V?ge, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)[back]
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