Bad News for Nervous Flyers: Turbulence Is Getting Worse as the Planet Warms
A recent study from researchers at the University of Reading in England provides some insight into how our skies have changed over the past few decades.
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Aircraft passengers are required to fasten their seatbelt when the sign is illuminated, and advised to keep it secured for the duration of a flight.
Williams stated, "It's hard to imagine that planes are not encountering more turbulence with 55% more in the air." What can then be done to manage or mitigate clear-air turbulences? He said, "We need to do more research on how and what causes turbulence." But there's a big catch. In the future, aircraft could be retrofitted with LIDAR as the technology becomes smaller, the cost drops, and there is more turbulence. Williams stated that "it's definitely dependent on our emission." "To the extent that it is in our control,... [because] We can control the heating from our emissions." However, with the number of aircraft in the sky, at least one will. Ses advice for passengers is simple. It's sensible to always keep your seatbelt on, in case you are unlucky enough to hit the tiny area of the atmosphere with turbulence.