Un shadow lengthens over the skies of the world and over the tranquility of airline passengers: the turbulences, atmospheric phenomenon which has always been a source of discomfort for travellerswhich are increasing today. The alarm was raised by a study conducted by the University of Reading, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, which links this increase to climate change and its consequences on our planet.
Turbulence on a plane: eventful journeys
It’s not just a feeling, but concrete data, which airlines will have to know better and better to guarantee the safety and comfort of passengers. Scientists have, in fact, shown that free-air turbulence, invisible and unpredictable, has increased in intensity, frequency and duration over the last 40 years.
Where you “dance” the most
The increase is particularly noticeable over the North Atlantic Oceanone of the busiest airline routes in the world. The data collected shows a 55% increase in severe turbulence from 1979 to 2020, with the average annual duration increasing from 17.7 to 27.4 hours. Moderate and light turbulence also increased by 37% and 17% respectively in the same period.
The causes of the phenomenon
But what are the causes of this phenomenon? The main one is global warming. The increase in CO2 emissions causes an increase in air temperaturewhich in turn intensifies the so-called windshear, that is, the difference in wind speed or direction in the jet streams. This phenomenon makes the air more unstable and prone to the formation of turbulence.
Turbulence on a plane, a challenge to face
Airlines are therefore facing a new challenge, not only for flight safety, but also for passenger comfort. Turbulence, in fact, can cause anxiety and discomfort, and in extreme cases even injuries. In addition to the human aspect, there is also an economic impact to consider: turbulence is estimated to cost the US aviation industry between 140 and 165 million euros per year. While free-air turbulence is not known to cause airline crashes, it is critical that airlines prepare to manage this increasing phenomenon. The adoption of new forecasting technologies and warning systemsas well as specific pilot training, will be crucial to ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers in the coming years.
If you are a traveller, how to prepare
Travelers also need to prepare for this new reality. A specialized portal, Turblihas drawn up a ranking of the most turbulent airline routes in the world. At the top of the global list are several South American routes, including the one between Mendoza and Santiago de Chile. In Europe, however, the most turbulent routes are concentrated between Italy and Switzerland, with Nice-Geneva at the top of the ranking.
The list of the most turbulent main European routes
- Nice – Geneva : 16,210
- Nice – Zurich : 15,412
- Milan – Zurich : 15,220
- Geneva – Venice : 14,451
- Venice – Zurich : 14,300
Here are the 10 most turbulent routes in the world
- Mendoza – Santiago
- Cordoba – Santiago
- Mendoza – Skip
- Mendoza – San Carlos de Bariloche
- Kathmandu – Lhasa
- Chengdu – Lhasa
- Santa Cruz – Santiago
- Kathmandu – Paro
- Chengdu – Xining
- San Carlos de Bariloche – Santiago
Fight against climate change
Knowing the most risky routes can help travelers mentally prepare for the flight, but the real solution to the problem of turbulence on airplanes inevitably involves the fight against climate change. Only by reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating the impact of man on the environment, conclude the authors of the study, will it be possible to guarantee a future of clear skies for future generations.
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