Warming temperatures due to climate change are expected to increase the frequency and severity of turbulence during flights, posing potential risks to air travelers. Severe turbulence can cause sudden drops in altitude, throwing passengers and objects upwards, leading to injuries and even fatalities.
Atmospheric researcher Paul Williams describes severe turbulence as turning passengers into projectiles, likening the experience to a rollercoaster without restraints, which can be terrifying, especially without seatbelts.
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One death and several injuries on Singapore Airlines flight from London last week
(Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
Severe turbulence incidents, like the one on a Singapore Airlines flight from London that resulted in one death and several injuries, have prompted concerns about climate change exacerbating turbulence intensity and frequency on planes.
Warmer air from carbon dioxide emissions alters air currents and leads to increased turbulence, particularly on busy flight routes like the North Atlantic.
Pilots rely on turbulence projections to plan routes, and LiDAR technology shows promise in detecting invisible clear air turbulence ahead of aircraft, but for now, fastening seat belts remains essential for passenger safety.
Climate change causing more air turbulence - Captain Itzhak Garber
Improved turbulence forecasting and detection systems are needed to mitigate the effects of increased turbulence, which can also lead to significant costs for the aviation industry due to wear-and-tear on aircraft and the risk of passenger and crew injuries.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Scientific American, Euronews, ABC News, CNBC, Al Jazeera, CBS News, The Hill