Aviation turbulence strengthened as the world warmed

Date:
June 8, 2023
Source:
University of Reading
Summary:
New research shows that clear-air turbulence increased in various
regions around the world from 1979 -- 2020.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The skies aircraft fly through are bumpier today than four decades ago, scientists have found, after producing a new analysis showing that
turbulence has increased as the climate changed.

New research from the University of Reading shows that clear-air
turbulence, which is invisible and hazardous to aircraft, has increased
in various regions around the world.

At a typical point over the North Atlantic -- one of the world's busiest
flight routes -- the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased
by 55% from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 27.4 hours in 2020, the research
found. Moderate turbulence increased by 37% from 70.0 to 96.1 hours,
and light turbulence increased by 17% from 466.5 to 546.8 hours.

The team behind the study, which is published today (Thursday, 8 June) in Geophysical Research Letters, say the increases are consistent with the
effects of climate change. Warmer air from CO2 emissions is increasing windshear in the jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence in the
North Atlantic and globally.

PhD researcher Mark Prosser said: "Turbulence makes flights bumpy and
can occasionally be dangerous. Airlines will need to start thinking about
how they will manage the increased turbulence, as it costs the industry $150-500m annually in the USA alone. Every additional minute spent
travelling through turbulence increases wear-and-tear on the aircraft,
as well as the risk of injuries to passengers and flight attendants."
While the USA and North Atlantic have experienced the largest increases,
the new study found that other busy flight routes over Europe, the Middle
East, and the South Atlantic also saw significant increases in turbulence.

Professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of
Reading who co-authored the study, said: "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."
* RELATED_TOPICS
o Matter_&_Energy
# Wind_Energy # Aviation # Aerospace # Vehicles
o Earth_&_Climate
# Environmental_Issues # Climate # Environmental_Science
# Air_Quality
* RELATED_TERMS
o Climate_changes_of_535_to_536 o Firestorm o Air_pollution
o Turbulence o Water_scarcity o Moment_magnitude_scale o
Typhoon_Tip o Air_conditioning

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Reading. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Mark C. Prosser, Paul D. Williams, Graeme J. Marlton, R. Giles
Harrison.

Evidence for Large Increases in Clear‐Air Turbulence Over
the Past Four Decades. Geophysical Research Letters, 2023; 50 (11)
DOI: 10.1029/ 2023GL103814 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608120936.htm

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