Weather Watch: Impact of Climate Change on Air Turbulence
Climate change is affecting air travel globally, with travelers facing increasingly bumpy journeys, according to Keith Banks.
Research has shown that severe turbulence episodes over the North Atlantic have increased by over 50% since the late 1970s, with the trend expected to accelerate in future decades.
- Climate change is warming sub-tropical and tropical air masses more than arctic and polar air masses.
- This creates sharper temperature and density contrasts, resulting in increased friction, instability, and pressure changes in the atmosphere.
- The changes have affected flight paths worldwide, intensifying the vigor of jet streams.
Investigations have shown that episodes of severe turbulence have increased by more than 50 per cent since the late 1970s.
Author's summary: Climate change increases air turbulence.