Climate change will increase the risk of severe turbulence on planes, research says
Researchers at the University of Reading in England analysed supercomputer simulations of the future atmosphere, focusing on clear air turbulence
By Anmar Frangoul
Climate change is set to increase the amount of severe turbulence on planes by 2050 to 2080, according to a study.
Researchers at the University of Reading in England analysed supercomputer simulations of the future atmosphere, focusing on clear air turbulence. As it is invisible, clear air turbulence is seen as being especially problematic.
For nervous fliers, the numbers contained within the research do not make for comfortable reading.
The study projects that severe turbulence at a typical cruising altitude of 39,000 feet is set to rise by roughly 181 per cent over the North Atlantic; 161 per cent over Europe; 113 per cent over North America; 92 per cent over the North Pacific; and 64 per cent over Asia.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) describes severe turbulence as being characterised by large and abrupt changes in altitude or attitude (relating to an aircraft’s orientation), as well as “large variation in indicated airspeed.” During severe turbulence, an aircraft “may be temporarily out of control,” the CASA adds.