Air travel has always been the quickest way to move from one place to another across the world. However, in the future, passengers are expected to experience rougher and shakier flights. According to a new study from the University of Reading (UK), the Earth is getting hotter, and so more flight turbulences are expected because of climate change. Read to know more.
Climate Change To Cause Turbulence In Air Travel
There are times when flights face air turbulence, making the journey scary and uncomfortable. Now, according to the latest study by the University of Reading, these turbulences will be frequent and even stronger, News18 reported. Climate change is disrupting powerful air currents known as jet streams, which play a key role in helping planes travel smoothly over long distances.
Due to disturbances in jet streams, a flight can become unstable and cause more turbulence, especially clear-air turbulence (CAT). It is more dangerous because it can’t be detected on radar and happens suddenly without warning. Between 1979 and 2020, researchers have found that turbulence incidents have increased by 55%. By the end of this century, the wind shear in jet streams will surge up by 16 to 20% whereas the atmosphere could become 10–20% less stable. These two changes will likely be the cause of more turbulence, according to the latest findings, published in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.
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Death And Injuries Caused By Turbulence
Co-author and an atmospheric scientist, Professor Paul Williams, has mentioned that till now turbulence has already been the cause of severe injuries and, in some cases, deaths. As a warning, he added that in the future, pilots will likely have to turn the seatbelt sign on more often to ensure passenger safety. Though to ensure passengers’ safety, pilots and airline staff are trained, travellers should no longer expect a smooth journey. It would be safe to put the seatbelt even though the sign is off.
Because of climate change, the skies will look the same, but they will no longer be calm and will cause disruptions in air travel causing more turbulence.
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