The importance of low-level jest around the world has been documented in several paper. In the tropics, a low level jest over Africa is responsible for the generation of easterly waves. Over the Caribbean, a low level jet forms during summer. This barotropically unstable jet appears to be responsible for the generation of easterly waves in the easetrn Pacific or the reinforcement of easterly waves propagating from Africa.
The spatial and temporal characteristics of the low-level Caribbean jet are examined and its importance on the observed precipitation patterns are discussed. In particular, the divergent (convergent) regions of the jet coincide with regions of minimum (maximum) precipitation. The intensity of the low-level jet appears to be modulated by the intensity of convective activity in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Pacific. So, fluctuations in the intensity of the ITCZ reflect in fluctuations in the strength of the low-level jet and precipitation over Central America. Even on interannual time scales, the strength of the Caribbean low-level jet varies, following El Nino and La Nina cycles. During El Nino (La Nina) years, the low-level jet is more (less) intense, and transient activity in the eastern Pacific incrases (decreases).
The interaction between the Caribbean low-level jet and topography over Central America, imprints a unique structure to regional precipitation variability. Such relationships may be used to "downscale" General Circulation Model output in Climate Change numerical experiments