Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out

Air travel is becoming bumpier as climate change causes more turbulence in the skies. Turbulence is when a plane suddenly shakes or moves up and down because of changes in the air. This can be uncomfortable or even dangerous for passengers and crew. In recent years, there have been more reports of severe turbulence, with some people getting hurt. For example, a flight attendant on a United Airlines flight was thrown against the ceiling and broke her arm during a turbulent flight over the Philippines.

Scientists have found that turbulence, especially a type called clear-air turbulence, is increasing because of human-caused climate change. Clear-air turbulence is hard to spot because it happens in clear skies and cannot be seen by radar or satellites. Professor Paul Williams from the University of Reading has studied this problem and says that turbulence is expected to get even worse by the 2050s, especially on popular flight routes. This could make some people more afraid to fly, as many already worry about losing control or having a bad experience with turbulence.

Turbulence is not just a problem for passengers. It also causes extra wear and tear on airplanes, which can make them need repairs more often. When pilots try to avoid turbulence, they sometimes have to fly longer routes, which uses more fuel and increases pollution. Because of these problems, the aviation industry is looking for new ways to reduce the effects of turbulence.

One company in Austria has created small devices called 'flaplets' that can be added to airplane wings. These flaplets move slightly to help keep the plane stable when the air gets rough. The company says their technology can reduce the feeling of turbulence by more than 80 percent, but so far it has only been tested on small planes. The CEO believes it will work for bigger planes too.

Scientists are also using artificial intelligence to help with turbulence. AI can find patterns in large amounts of data and help predict when and where turbulence will happen. For example, researchers in Sweden have used AI to control small jets of air on a simulated airplane wing, making the ride smoother. Other teams are testing new sensors that can detect turbulence far ahead of the plane, using lasers or sound waves.

About 20 years ago, pilots could only predict about 60 percent of turbulence, but now they can predict about 75 percent. This is thanks to better technology, more data from weather balloons, and information from thousands of flights every day. Some airlines share real-time turbulence data to help each other, and there are even apps that let passengers check if their flight might be bumpy.

Even though turbulence is becoming more common, flying is still very safe. Scientists, engineers, and pilots are working together to make flights smoother and safer. With new technology and better information, the aviation industry hopes to keep passengers comfortable and confident when they fly.