Out of the many plasma jets observed in EUV emission lines by SUMER on SOHO in the transition region of the solar atmosphere, three events are described in detail and the prevailing plasma parameters are investigated. The jets occurred under very different conditions ranging from an active region network high-velocity event to a quiet Sun cell explosive event. Consequently, the characteristic features substantially varied from event to event. The most striking distinction is the behaviour of the high-temperature lines (Ne VIII, Mg VIII, and Mg IX), which show the events in the more active sites, but not in the cell event. Line radiance ratios provide electron temperature and density diagnostics. It appears as if all three events carl be understood as plasma acceleration effects of magnetic cancellation activity.