Climate Change Affects Airplane Turbulence, Claims Study; Scientists Show Proof

It turns out that climate change also affects airplane turbulence.

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A jet comes in for a landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on April 15, 2008, in Los Angeles, California. With skyrocketing fuel prices and a weak economy, US airlines are turning to mergers which could ultimately lead to higher fares through reduced flights and increased market power. US carriers emerged from a five-year slump in 2006 with $35 billion in losses.

This was revealed by a new study conducted by a group of scientists at the University of Reading in the U.K. They claimed that climate change's effects on turbulence during flights are already happening.

They specifically refer to CAT (clear-air turbulence), the turbulent movement of air masses, even without clouds.

Climate Change Affects Airplane Turbulence

According to Euro News' latest report, the University of Reading researchers published their study in the Geophysical Researcher Letters Journal.

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Airline passengers, some not wearing face masks following the end of Covid-19 public transportation rules, sit during an American Airlines flight operated by SkyWest Airlines from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California to Denver, Colorado, on April 19, 2022. - Mask mandates on public transportation are no longer in effect following a ruling by a federal judge on April 18, 2022.

Prof. Paul Williams, the study's co-author, explained that they followed a decade of research claiming that climate change will worsen CAT.

Now, atmospheric scientists claim that they finally have evidence proving that climate change is increasing clear-air turbulence.

"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," said the professor.

Proving Climate Change Affects CAT

Based on the new study's findings, climate change has already affected the CAT of the world's busiest flight routes over the North Atlantic Ocean.

Scientists claim a 55% increase in the annual duration of severe clear-air turbulence in the area.

Aside from the North Atlantic, the University of Reading researchers also claim that the clear-air turbulence in the flight routes over the United States, the Middle East, the South Atlantic, and Europe is also increasing.

If you want to learn more about their study about the effects of climate change on flight turbulence, you can click here.

Why CAT is Dangerous

The clear-air turbulence can be dangerous for airplanes, especially for passengers.

Here are some of the effects of CAT on flights:

CAT can negatively affect the performances of flight crews since personnel will find it hard to do simple tasks.
Clear-air turbulence can damage passenger airplanes.
CAT can even lead to injuries if passengers and flight crews are unaware.