Global warming making flight turbulence worse, says UK study

According to a recent study, flight turbulence has worsened as global warming has impacted the earth.

The UK’s Reading University conducted research on clear-air turbulence, which is more difficult for pilots to avoid, reports BBC.

On a generally busy North Atlantic route, researchers discovered that severe turbulence had increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020.

They attribute the rise to variations in wind patterns caused by warmer air from carbon emissions at high altitudes.

Prof Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at Reading University who co-authored the study, told BBC: “Following a decade of research showing that climate change will increase clear-air turbulence in the future, we now have evidence suggesting that the increase has already begun.”

“We should be investing in improved turbulence forecasting and detection systems, to prevent the rougher air from translating into bumpier flights in the coming decades,” he added.

The highest increases were observed on North Atlantic and American flight routes. There was also a noticeable increase in turbulence throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the South Atlantic.

According to Prof Williams, the jet stream – a powerful wind system travelling from west to east, roughly five to seven miles above the surface of the earth – is to blame for the increased turbulence because it has more wind shear, or variances in wind speed. It exists primarily as a result of a temperature difference between the equator and the poles of the planet.

Even though satellites are unable to view turbulence, they can observe the jet stream’s shape and structure, which enables analysis.

Storm-related turbulence can be detected by radar, but clear-air turbulence is difficult to spot and nearly imperceptible.

Flights with turbulence can hurt passengers in addition to being uncomfortable. While severe turbulence is extremely uncommon, when people are not wearing seat belts, clear-air turbulence might suddenly appear.

There are also monetary repercussions. The effects of turbulence, including wear and tear on aircraft, cause the aviation sector to lose between $150 million and $500 million yearly in the US alone, according to the experts. Also, it has an environmental cost because pilots need more fuel to avoid turbulence.