What is Turbulence? Why Does It Happen?

Turbulence is a type of change that occurs in the air around your aircraft. Air isn’t nothing; it’s a fluid, like water. Air currents move up and down, wave, and change direction and speed. Rough weather occurs everywhere, from ground level to well above cruising altitude. However, the three most common causes of turbulence experienced by fliers are mountains, jet streams, and storms.

Just as ocean waves break on a beach, air forms waves when it encounters mountains. While some air is pulled back and forth, others are deposited against the mountains themselves, leaving them with nowhere to go but up. These “mountain waves” can propagate through the atmosphere as broad, gentle oscillations, but they can also break up into the many turbulent currents we experience as turbulence.

What Causes Turbulence?

The air element in atmospheric currents is constantly in motion and fluid. Aircraft take advantage of this fluidity in the air during flight. For the aircraft to fly smoothly and avoid turbulence, air currents must flow regularly over and under the wings of the aircraft.

Some factors that cause turbulence are easier to predict. Thunderstorms, air heated by the sun, changes in weather, mountains, and other geographical features cause turbulence when the air moves up and down, and the effects of these fluctuations can last for a long time.

What Does It Mean to Enter Turbulence?

Turbulence is the shaking of an aircraft, either minor or severe, due to changes in airflow. The aircraft may shake or vibrate until the airflow is corrected.

Turbulence can be mild or severe, depending on the severity of the fluctuation in airflow. Pilots will often make warning announcements during this time, trying to explain the situation to you and urging you to fasten your seat belts. You should ensure your seat belts are fastened, as severe turbulence can cause a crash or a fall.

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

Turbulence is generally harmless and not dangerous. However, if it coincides with a strong air current in the air, it can create violent vibrations, which can lead to falls and injuries among passengers. Turbulence is of varying types, driven by a variety of factors. Clear-air turbulence can be caused by thunder, storms, updrafts and downdrafts from clouds, thermal currents, or sudden changes in wind speed or direction.

Are There Injuries Due to Turbulence?

According to statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration, approximately 58 pilots are injured by turbulence each year. Two-thirds of this number are flight attendants or passengers who are not wearing seat belts during severe shocks. This means that approximately 20 of the 800 million passengers flying in the United States each year are injured by turbulence. This typically occurs at altitudes of 30,000 feet or above.

Can Turbulence Bring Down a Plane?

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Turbulence can even cause severe trauma. People may psychologically fear these intense shaking and think they could bring down the plane. However, turbulence doesn’t bring down the plane. Aircraft are specifically designed to withstand all types of turbulence.

Some turbulences that cause severe shaking can be quite frightening, but don’t worry, pilots have received specialized training in turbulence. It’s crucial for you to always wear your seat belts throughout the flight. Many passengers are terrified by turbulence and are terrified of flying again.

What is Clear Air Turbulence?

Turbulence in clear air is generally the most dangerous. This is because it occurs when the sky is clear and clear. Even with such excellent weather, the turbulence is not picked up by weather radar. Flight crews often have no time or are unable to warn passengers to return to their seats or fasten their seat belts. Because clear air turbulence is so dangerous, most injuries resulting from it have occurred.

What Causes Turbulence?

Aircraft turbulence is caused by many environmental factors. However, the most significant factor causing turbulence is atmospheric changes. There are other causes of turbulence as well. These can be listed as follows:

Thermals

When solar heat triggers thermals, or pockets of warm air, to rise and interact with prevailing winds during flight, it can cause a bumpy ride. Thermals act as obstacles to the normal wind currents that should be moving away from it, causing turbulence.

Wind at Lower Altitudes

Wind closer to the ground is subject to friction, affecting its flow from the Earth’s surface and everything above it. Wind isn’t as smooth and constant on the ground, so changes in its direction and speed cause mild turbulence.

Wake Turbulence from Other Aircraft

Wake turbulence, also known as wake turbulence, occurs when an aircraft is caught in the wake of another aircraft or helicopter while passing by. The larger the aircraft, the greater the wake it causes. Aircraft hold their ground due to the differential pressure exerted by lift above and below the wing. Due to this pressure difference, the eddies created by the air flowing over the aircraft’s wing as it leaves the wingtip twist and form two counter-rotating cylindrical vortices.

Civil aviation authorities are implementing various regulations to prevent accidents caused by tailwind turbulence. Because accidents most commonly occur during landing, the pilot and control tower operators are responsible for maintaining a proper following distance from the aircraft ahead.

Mountains

Air is fluid, like a liquid, and can be thought of as large waves in the ocean. When air encounters high mountains, it can be swept upwards, causing turbulence in aircraft. The intensity of turbulence varies depending on the change in airflow.

Thunderstorms

The turbulence created by these storms is a new discovery by researchers: they can create volatile conditions in distant skies. The rapid growth of storm clouds pushes air away, creating waves in the atmosphere that can turn into turbulence thousands of miles away, says Robert Sharman, a turbulence researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

How Do Pilots Detect Turbulence?

An onboard weather radar highlights areas experiencing heavy precipitation. Generally, the larger the raindrops, the larger the clouds and the more turbulence within the clouds. Pilots can fly through or around the clouds.

When pilots fly into turbulence, they likely do everything they can to navigate the aircraft. The fear and sensation of flight turbulence isn’t just experienced by passengers; the flight crew also experiences these experiences.