Jets with complex shock-cell structures exist in numerous technological applications. This paper describes a fundamental study of shock-induced flow resonance (commonly referred to as "jet screech") in supersonic jets with spanwise nonuniform shock-cell structures. Experiments that involve flow visualization and detailed mapping of the near field reveal unsteady aspects of shock-induced flow resonances, mode transitions, and directivity of the radiated noise. The following important results about the role of spanwise nonuniform shock-cells emerged: (1) It is possible to have two coexisting, independent feedback loops at nonharmonically related frequencies and different spanwise modes. (2) The same type of spanwise asymmetric mode was produced by two entirely different source configurations. (3) Nozzle geometry significantly altered the intensity and directivity of screech and broadband shock noise. The results presented here provide considerable insight into the fluid dynamics and acoustics of jets with spanwise oblique shock-cell structures and provide grounds for believing that shock-induced noise can be controlled by tailoring nozzle geometry. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(99)00103-8].