Air Turbulence in Flight FAQs: What Causes Turbulence? Is Climate Change the Reason Behind Turbulence? Here’s All You Need To Know About It

Turbulence can be a frightening experience. The flight can suddenly and sometimes violently move up and down. You may feel anxious, praying, and your stomach is churning. You begin looking at the cabin crew helplessly. You pray, hoping the pilot lands the flight safely. You start thinking of family and friends. Yes, turbulence can be very scary! Almost every flight traveller has experienced some form of turbulence, whether mild or severe, at some point. So, what exactly causes turbulence? Could temperature changes be a factor? Let's delve into the details to understand more about turbulence. Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 Flight Experiences Severe Turbulence; One Passenger Dead, Over 30 Injured.

What Is Turbulence?

Planes fly because the air is flowing in a smooth and steady way. However, sometimes the air moving around the plane can get disturbed, making it bumpy. This can cause a plane to shake. It can feel like the plane is going up and down suddenly, like hitting pockets in the air. This is called turbulence. Turbulence can make a plane lose altitude, but not for long. But turbulence can sure feel scary!

What Causes Turbulence?

The air around us is always moving. Think of it like an invisible ocean. For the flight to fly smoothly, the air needs to be steady and smooth over and under the wings. Sometimes, when there is a change in the weather, it can make the airflow uneven, thereby disturbing the steady flow and creating pockets that cause the turbulence. There are different things that can cause turbulence. For example, sometimes the disturbance happens even in clear skies (clear air turbulence). It could also be caused by hot and cold air mixing up (temperature inversion turbulence) or by flying near mountains, buildings, or trees that block smooth air flow (mechanical turbulence). Another reason could be mountain wave turbulence, which happens when strong winds blow over mountain ranges and create waves of air that reach far beyond the mountains.

It can also occur due to near-cloud turbulence, which happens close to clouds, especially thunderstorm clouds. These clouds have strong updrafts and downdrafts that can create turbulence. Clear air turbulence (CAT) is a hidden danger. Unlike other types of turbulence that can be predicted using satellites, data from sensors, radar, or by looking at the sky, clear air turbulence can appear suddenly without any warning. This makes it almost impossible for pilots, crew and airlines to prepare for.

Is Climate Change the Reason Behind Frequent Turbulence?

Lately, there have been more reports of flights experiencing turbulence. Studies suggest that climate change is making turbulence more frequent and severe. A study from the University of Reading and the UK Meteorological Office found that between the years 1979 and 2020, CAT, or clear air turbulence, had increased greatly at cruising altitudes. Over the North Atlantic, the duration of severe clear air turbulence increased by more than 55%. This increase is almost certainly due to climate change, which is making the jet streams stronger and thereby causing more turbulence. According to the researchers, severe turbulence will become more common than light or moderate turbulence. Another study from last year suggested that not only clear air turbulence but also mountain wave turbulence and near-cloud turbulence will intensify due to climate change in the future. Air Europa Flight Experiences Severe Turbulence Leaving Passenger in Overhead Bin: Is Climate Change Behind Increasing Incidents of Clear Air Turbulence?.

While turbulence can be frightening, pilots undergo rigorous training to handle it safely, ensuring passengers' comfort and safety during flights. Modern technology also helps pilots predict and navigate around turbulence, minimising its impact on the flight experience.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2024 02:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).