Increasing Air Turbulence: The Most Troublesome Flight Paths Globally Revealed
The world's most turbulent air travel routes are found predominantly over large mountain ranges, with the 120-mile flight between Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, over the Andes Mountains, identified as the most turbulent globally [1][2][3][4][5].
These routes are susceptible to turbulence due to the disruption of normal airflow patterns caused by mountains. This results in the formation of atmospheric phenomena known as mountain waves. When strong winds hit tall mountain barriers, air is forced upward, creating oscillating waves that extend far downwind, causing significant turbulence. This effect is seen in major mountain ranges such as the Andes, Rockies, Himalayas, and the alpine regions of Switzerland and New Zealand [1][2][5].
Other factors contributing to turbulence on these routes include clear-air turbulence, especially common around jet streams and without visual cues like clouds, making it hard for pilots to anticipate. Seasonal and weather influences also play a role, with stronger winds and turbulence typically occurring in winter months. Furthermore, studies indicate that severe turbulence is becoming more common on major flight paths such as North Atlantic crossings [2].
In the U.S., routes crossing the Rocky Mountains, such as Salt Lake City to Denver, also rank among the most turbulent due to similar mountain wave effects [1][5].
Scientists are also exploring whether climate change may be increasing thunderstorm turbulence. Thunderstorms and towering cumulus clouds are another key source of turbulence, particularly near the equator. Turbulence is one of the most unpredictable weather phenomena for pilots [6].
Despite turbulence incidents, serious injuries are relatively rare given the high volume of daily flights worldwide. Modern aircraft are structurally designed to withstand even significant turbulence safely [1][5]. However, turbulence incidents resulting in injuries, hospitalizations, and even death have been increasing recently [7].
Recent incidents include a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam that experienced severe turbulence last week [8]. The turbulence was so extreme that some passengers thought the plane was going to crash, and 25 people were taken to the hospital after the emergency landing [9].
Another notable incident occurred last year when a 73-year-old man died of a heart attack during severe turbulence on a flight from London to Singapore [10].
Japan has a particularly strong jet stream due to the frigid air from Siberia meeting warm air from Pacific Ocean currents, making some routes in Japan, such as the 320-mile route between Natori and Tokoname, among the most turbulent in Asia [11].
The North Atlantic Corridor, especially between North America and Europe, has the strongest jet streams, with severe clear-air turbulence over the North Atlantic being 55% more frequent in 2020 than 1979 [2].
Clear-air turbulence, which is most often used to describe turbulence near jet streams, is hazardous because it's hard to detect and forecast [6]. As the planet warms, clear-air turbulence is intensifying [2]. Despite these challenges, our understanding of turbulence is improving, and we can now accurately forecast about 75% of turbulence [12].
References: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/science/turbulence-airlines-climate-change.html [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014292118302902 [3] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210126-the-science-behind-aircraft-turbulence [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0343-6 [5] https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_turbulence/media/ATC_Turbulence_Brochure.pdf [6] https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/feb/14/air-travel-turbulence-weather-forecasting-airlines [7] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-turbulence-injuries-on-the-rise-in-the-us/ [8] https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/delta-turbulence-incident-amsterdam/index.html [9] https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/25-hospitalized-after-delta-flight-from-salt-lake-city-to-amsterdam-experiences-severe-turbulence/ar-AA165p5X [10] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57611840 [11] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/08/national/science-health/japan-jet-stream-climate-change-turbulence/ [12] https://www.npr.org/2021/01/25/962241133/forecasting-air-turbulence-is-getting-better-but-its-still-a-challenge
- The unpredictable nature of turbulence is not only a concern for airline travel, but also for the study of climate change, as scientists research if severe thunderstorm turbulence is increasing due to global warming.
- Environmental science and climate science are important fields of study, as they help us understand the complex relationship between turbulence, the environment, and climate change.
- Adjusting our lifestyles and travel habits to reduce carbon emissions could potentially have a positive impact on both climate change and the frequency of turbulence on airline routes.
