Why plane turbulence is becoming more frequent - and more severe

Airplane turbulence is becoming more common and more severe, and many travelers are starting to notice. Andrew Davies, who was flying to New Zealand for work, experienced a terrifying episode of turbulence. He described it as feeling like a rollercoaster, with his iPad flying up and coffee spilling everywhere. The cabin was chaotic, and some passengers were injured. While deaths from turbulence are extremely rare, injuries are not. In the United States alone, over 200 people have been seriously hurt by turbulence since 2009, most of them flight crew. Experts believe that climate change is making turbulence worse. As the atmosphere warms, wind patterns change, leading to more frequent and intense turbulence. Professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist, predicts that the amount of severe turbulence could double or even triple in the coming decades. This means that flights could experience much longer periods of rough air than they do now.

Turbulence happens when a plane flies through unstable air. It can be caused by storms, mountains, or sudden changes in wind speed and direction, known as clear-air turbulence. Clear-air turbulence is especially dangerous because it cannot be seen and often comes without warning. The North Atlantic route, which connects the UK with the US and the Caribbean, is one of the bumpiest in the world. Since satellites started tracking the atmosphere, severe turbulence in this area has increased by 55 percent. Other regions, such as East Asia and North Africa, are also seeing more turbulence. Climate change is a big part of the problem. Warmer air holds more moisture, which leads to stronger storms. These storms can create powerful updrafts and downdrafts, making turbulence worse. Clear-air turbulence is also increasing because the temperature difference between the north and south sides of the jet stream is getting bigger, making the jet stream stronger and more unstable.

Airlines are working to make flying safer despite the increase in turbulence. They use advanced weather radar and computer models to predict where turbulence might occur and plan flight paths to avoid it. Some airlines have changed their procedures, such as ending cabin service earlier so that passengers and crew can be seated with their seatbelts on during the riskiest parts of the flight. New technology is also being developed to help planes handle turbulence better. For example, engineers are studying how birds like owls fly smoothly in rough air and are designing wings that can adjust to turbulence. Some companies are even using artificial intelligence to help planes react to turbulence in real time. While turbulence can be scary, experts say that modern airplanes are built to withstand it. The best way for passengers to stay safe is to keep their seatbelts fastened whenever they are seated. Even though turbulence is likely to become more common, it is usually just uncomfortable rather than dangerous. Airlines and scientists are working hard to make sure that flying remains as safe as possible, even as the skies get bumpier.