Climate change is causing turbulence on plane rides, making them bumpier | Global News

The recent tragic incident on a London-Singapore flight that resulted in the death of one passenger and injuries to 30 others due to severe turbulence has shed light on a concerning consequence of the climate crisis. A warming planet is leading to an increase in air turbulence, particularly dangerous clear-air turbulence that is undetectable by radar systems.

Research has shown a 55% rise in the annual duration of turbulence over the North Atlantic, one of the busiest flight routes globally, between 1979 and 2020. This trend is attributed to greater wind shear in the jet stream, caused by temperature variations between the equator and the poles.

Experts are calling for urgent investments in radar systems and forecasting for air travel to address this growing issue. The rise in global temperatures is exacerbating the situation, with projections indicating that summers by 2050 could be as turbulent as winters in 1950.

While severe turbulence remains rare, it is expected to increase over time, posing a significant risk to aviation safety. The aviation sector, a major contributor to global emissions, is also facing other threats from the climate crisis, including runway flooding, reduced lift due to warmer air, increased risk of lightning strikes, longer flights, and higher fuel consumption.

In light of these challenges, researchers emphasize the need for improved turbulence forecasting and detection systems to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel in the face of a changing climate. The time to act is now to prevent rougher skies from translating into bumpier flights in the future.