Study says more rough flights and turbulence caused by climate change

This came in a new study published in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters.

According to the study, warmer air in the atmosphere, caused by carbon dioxide emissions, especially over the Atlantic Ocean, leads to “bumpy” flights. Since 1979, the number of hours of severe disturbance there is said to have increased by 55 percent, from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 27.4 hours in 2020.

proof of the theory

“For scientists, this result is not surprising,” says Bart Verheijn, climate specialist at RTL Neuss. “The models actually predicted this. The special thing about this paper is that it provides proof of theory.”

Researcher and study co-author Paul Williams of the University of Reading, who has been researching climate change and turbulence for years and who Verheigen says has a good reputation, says the world “needs to invest in systems that better predict and signal turbulence.” This is to prevent erratic air. from causing more ‘turbulent’ flights in the coming decades.

The research is definitively about “clear air turbulence,” or the turbulence that occurs when there is apparently no problem in the air. “That makes it relevant,” says climate specialist Verheegen. “In the case of thunderclouds or a slump, you can expect turbulence to occur, and then you can easily fly around it. But the shape here is a lot less predictable.”

Prescription disorder

According to Verheggen, global warming is causing the temperature differences between air currents to increase. “Also, the differences in wind speed increase as a result. In the regions and air layers where these wind currents meet, the variances are larger. And it’s a good recipe for turbulence.”

Aviation is also affected by climate change in other regions. The flights are lengthened by the “jet stream”, or the jet stream (currents of wind at high altitudes). In addition, aircraft in warm air have less carrying capacity. “It’s ridiculous,” says Maurice Middendorp, a meteorologist at Buienradar. “Air traffic itself is partly responsible for emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide, so it cuts itself on the fingers. As a result, planes can take fewer people or cargo on board.”

Thus, this costs more fuel which is paid for by fewer passengers. In addition, research indicates that aircraft require faster and more frequent maintenance due to turbulence, which in turn leads to additional costs. Co-researcher Mark Prosser says: Watchman: “The additional cost of the disorder is between $150 and $500 million annually in the United States alone.”

maintenance service

Verheggen: “If you often rock your bike hard, you will also have to do maintenance sooner.” In addition, according to co-author Prosser, increased turbulence can also be dangerous for passengers and crew members.

Between 1979 and 2020, “moderate” disturbances over the Atlantic increased from 70 to 96.1 hours, an increase of 37 percent. Mild disturbance increased by 17 percent, from 466.5 to 546.8 hours.

The study focused mainly on the North Atlantic and North America, but the authors say that disturbances have also increased significantly in Europe, the Middle East, and the South Atlantic.

Middendorp and Verheggen put the seriousness of the problem into perspective. Verheugen: “If you look at all the consequences of climate change, of course it’s not something to worry about right away. But it really does show that climate change is playing a role in all kinds of areas.”