While storms and undulating mountain winds can affect the amount of turbulence we experience on flights, there’s one other factor that is being worsened by climate change. For now, it’s completely undetectable to pilots.
By now, you’ve probably heard about the Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence and suddenly plunged 6,000 feet just hours before reaching its destination.
The intense disturbance caused a British national on board to go into cardiac arrest and die, while 71 of 211 passengers and 18 crew members were injured.
With modern, turbulence-detecting technology and experienced pilots guiding the plane on a well-travelled path, how could this have happened?
Investigations are ongoing, but the suspected culprit is clear air turbulence (CAT), a type of inconsistency with gravity waves in the atmosphere. Even using current technology, CAT is completely undetectable.
In some bad news for wary flyers, experts say this kind of turbulence will become more common and unpredictable as climate change worsens.
There are many causes of turbulence, but the most common types are caused by the meeting of opposing wind patterns.
Visible weather events such as storms can make for a bumpy flight, and pilots can consult their radar, sonar, and radios to avoid them. Geographical conditions, such as mountain ranges, can also spew undulating winds that jostle a plane.
Wake turbulence, on the other hand, is caused by other planes taking off or landing in front of another. The jet stream created by the plane in front shifts the air flow for the plane behind, leading to a momentarily unsteady flight path. Here, communication and instruments on board can help avoid these disturbances.
Clear air turbulence, on the other hand, is completely invisible. It’s caused by warm air rising into cooler air – a phenomenon that is expected to happen a lot more as our planet’s climate changes.
Pilots can’t detect this type of turbulence on their radars, so it occurs without warning unless it is flagged by a plane up ahead. In its worst forms, CAT can cause planes to shift off course, lurch powerfully, or lose altitude suddenly.
CAT is what the Singapore Airlines flight most likely encountered in the Bay of Bengal, which is already notorious for severe turbulence caused by thunderstorms.
Turbulence will likely get worse
According to a study from the University of Reading, instances of severe turbulence have increased by 55 percent since the late 1970s.
Especially bumpy flights have been attributed to sudden changes in wind and velocity at high altitudes, likely due to higher air temperatures, which are affecting transatlantic flights the most.
As a result of climate change, pockets of higher temperatures at high altitudes are expected to become more common, leading to more reports of turbulent flights.
Anticipating this trend, pilots are calling for the aviation industry to invest in systems that enable them to better locate and identify turbulence during flights.
What’s important to remember is that turbulence is almost always harmless. While injuries have occurred in severe cases, there have been no reports of plane damage due to turbulence. Granted, being shaken around in the sky can heighten the anxiety of the most seasoned traveller.
What occurred on the Singapore Airlines flight was a tragic anomaly, one that will surely incentivise passengers to wear their seatbelts and cause in-flight safety and onboard technologies to be improved.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
As many as forty people between the ages of 22 and 58 will be spending Christmas in UK prisons. This record-breaking figure is attributed to the high number of arrests at climate change protests and demonstrations related to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
This year, a record-breaking number of UK protestors will be spending Christmas behind bars.
With forty activists between the ages of 22 to 58 locked up across Britain in...
The tragic death of the UnitedHealthcare CEO has renewed attention to the downfalls of American health insurance. As Trump prepares to take on his second presidential term, concerns are raised over how his policies could affect the affordability and accessibility of health coverage.
On 4th December, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare was assassinated. His death sparked intense discussions about the failures of the American healthcare system.
Following the arrest of...
The tropical cyclone Chido wreaked havoc in northern Mozambique affecting more than 180,000 people, and once again showed how climate change decimates the continent.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN, OCHA) report, the organization confirms that the cyclone has killed at least 45 people, and the number is expected to increase.
The cyclone has left thousands of people homeless and affected the livelihoods...
On Thursday, at a courthouse in Avignon, France, Dominique Pelicot was handed 20 years in prison for aggravated rape following over a decade of drugging and abusing his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and inviting over 50 men to rape her.
Among the 50 co-defendants, 46 were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.
The judge handed down sentences ranging from three and 15 years, with a...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
0 comments
