Climate change is affecting our air travel in ways that can be both fascinating and somewhat disturbing. Increased CO2 emissions are contributing to more frequent and more intense air turbulence. Researchers at the University of Reading have noted that turbulence over the North Atlantic has increased by more than 50% since 1979. While incidents such as the one with Singapore Airlines show that turbulence can be dangerous, it is rare, and airlines are working to improve the predictability and management of the phenomenon to ensure passenger safety.
Singapore Airlines incident
In a recent incident with Singapore Airlines, a plane experienced severe turbulence that caused the death of one person and injured 20 other passengers. The turbulence was so severe that some passengers were ejected from their seats, even though there were no prior warning signs of impending air turbulence. Such incidents, while tragic, are rare, and airlines are doing everything possible to minimize the risk of such incidents in the future.
Mechanisms of Turbulence Creation
Turbulence are sudden, unpredictable air movements that cause an aircraft to vibrate. They can occur at different altitudes and are caused by different atmospheric factors. They most often occur when different air masses with different speeds or directions meet, leading to instability and turbulence.
One of the main factors causing turbulence is jet currents, which are narrow, fast-moving streams of air located at high altitudes. When an airplane flies into such a current, differences in air speed can cause oscillations. Another source of turbulence is convection currents, which are created when warm air rises and cold air descends, which is often the case during thunderstorms and in strong sunlight. Turbulence can also arise from terrain, such as when air flows over mountains, buildings or other obstacles, creating turbulence. Flights over mountainous areas are often more prone to this type of turbulence.
Impact of Climate Change on Turbulence
Climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of turbulence, which poses new challenges for the aviation industry. Increased CO2 emissions contribute to a warming atmosphere, which in turn affects air currents, increasing instability and the risk of turbulence. In warmer climates, differences in the velocities and directions of air masses become more pronounced, leading to more frequent turbulence. In addition, changes in jet currents make turbulence more difficult to predict, increasing the risk to flights.
Innovation and Safety
While turbulence can be unpleasant, modern aircraft are designed to handle it safely. Airlines are using advanced technology to anticipate and avoid areas of high turbulence risk to ensure passenger comfort and safety. Incidents like the one with Singapore Airlines are rare, and the airline industry is doing its best to keep it that way. However, passengers are always advised to wear seat belts during flights to avoid injury from sudden aircraft movements.