What atmospheric features contribute to the development of jet streams?

The development of jet streams is primarily influenced by strong horizontal temperature gradients and abrupt changes in the tropopause height. Jet streams are narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere, typically found near the tropopause, which is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

When there is a significant temperature difference between two air masses, it creates varying pressure systems. The increased wind speeds result from the tight pressure gradients associated with these temperature differences. Additionally, the abrupt change in tropopause height often occurs due to varying temperatures between the equatorial regions and polar areas, contributing to the formation and positioning of jet streams.

While the other options mention various atmospheric conditions, they do not directly relate to the formation of jet streams in the way that strong horizontal temperature gradients and changes in tropopause height do. This makes the selected choice the most accurate in describing the atmospheric features that contribute to the development of jet streams.