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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Aviation turbulence strengthened as the world warmed    
      
     Date:   
         June 8, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Reading   
     Summary:   
         New research shows that clear-air turbulence increased in various   
         regions around the world from 1979 -- 2020.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   The skies aircraft fly through are bumpier today than four decades ago,   
   scientists have found, after producing a new analysis showing that   
   turbulence has increased as the climate changed.   
      
   New research from the University of Reading shows that clear-air   
   turbulence, which is invisible and hazardous to aircraft, has increased   
   in various regions around the world.   
      
   At a typical point over the North Atlantic -- one of the world's busiest   
   flight routes -- the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased   
   by 55% from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 27.4 hours in 2020, the research   
   found. Moderate turbulence increased by 37% from 70.0 to 96.1 hours,   
   and light turbulence increased by 17% from 466.5 to 546.8 hours.   
      
   The team behind the study, which is published today (Thursday, 8 June) in   
   Geophysical Research Letters, say the increases are consistent with the   
   effects of climate change. Warmer air from CO2 emissions is increasing   
   windshear in the jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence in the   
   North Atlantic and globally.   
      
   PhD researcher Mark Prosser said: "Turbulence makes flights bumpy and   
   can occasionally be dangerous. Airlines will need to start thinking about   
   how they will manage the increased turbulence, as it costs the industry   
   $150-500m annually in the USA alone. Every additional minute spent   
   travelling through turbulence increases wear-and-tear on the aircraft,   
   as well as the risk of injuries to passengers and flight attendants."   
   While the USA and North Atlantic have experienced the largest increases,   
   the new study found that other busy flight routes over Europe, the Middle   
   East, and the South Atlantic also saw significant increases in turbulence.   
      
   Professor Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of   
   Reading who co-authored the study, said: "Following a decade of research   
   showing that climate change will increase clear-air turbulence in the   
   future, we now have evidence suggesting that the increase has already   
   begun. We should be investing in improved turbulence forecasting and   
   detection systems, to prevent the rougher air from translating into   
   bumpier flights in the coming decades."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Wind_Energy # Aviation # Aerospace # Vehicles   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Environmental_Issues # Climate # Environmental_Science   
                   # Air_Quality   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Climate_changes_of_535_to_536 o Firestorm o Air_pollution   
             o Turbulence o Water_scarcity o Moment_magnitude_scale o   
             Typhoon_Tip o Air_conditioning   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Reading. Note: Content   
   may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Mark C. Prosser, Paul D. Williams, Graeme J. Marlton, R. Giles   
      Harrison.   
      
         Evidence for Large Increases in Clear‐Air Turbulence Over   
         the Past Four Decades. Geophysical Research Letters, 2023; 50 (11)   
         DOI: 10.1029/ 2023GL103814   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230608120936.htm   
      
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