Abstract Analysis of vertical velocity measurements made for four days each month over the period from 1986 to 1988 by the MU radar in Japan shows a reversal in direction near the peak in the zonal wind profile during the winter months. More specifically, the reversal is noted during periods when the peak horizontal wind speeds 60 m s−1. The vertical velocities associated with the circulation have magnitudes of 10-20 cm s−1, and the depth of the circulation is of the order of several kilometers. In 6 out of 14 cases when the feature was observed, the direction of the vertical circulation, although not the magnitude, could be explained by adiabatic ascent or subsidence along the average potential temperature surface slopes for the observation intervals. The direction of the circulation was such that it would tend to produce cooling and heating for the ascent and subsidence, respectively, that would tend to strengthen or at least maintain the jet. In the remaining eight cases, the direction of the vertical ...