More or Less: Behind the Stats Is increasing turbulence making flying more dangerous?
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Jul 20, 2024 Turbulence expert Paul Williams discusses the link between climate change and increased turbulence, its impact on flight safety, and advancements in turbulence avoidance. Exploring injury statistics, projections of rising turbulence, and strategies for managing fear of turbulence.
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Clear Air Turbulence Increase
- Clear air turbulence, an invisible danger caused by jet streams and wind shear, has been increasing.
- This increase is confidently attributed to climate change.
Climate Change and Wind Shear
- Climate change warms the warm air south of the jet stream more than the cold air to the north at flight cruising levels.
- This increased temperature difference strengthens wind shear, leading to more turbulence.
Severe Turbulence Increase
- Severe turbulence, strong enough to lift unseatbelted passengers, has increased significantly since 1979.
- The North Atlantic has seen a 55% increase, with similar rises over the USA and globally.