Aircraft Turbulence is Worsening with Climate Change: Studying Birds Could Help

[Social Media]

 

Our skies are becoming increasingly turbulent as climate change progresses, making the need to understand and predict turbulence more urgent than ever. Researchers are now proposing that birds, which often encounter choppy skies, could provide valuable clues to help address this issue. When we look up, the sky may appear calm and still, but the air is always in motion. It flows like water, with eddies and currents that can be smooth and serene or tumultuous and violent.

 

Turbulence, one of the most unpredictable weather phenomena, is becoming more common as the planet warms. This poses significant risks to aviation, including potential injuries, deaths, and structural damage to aircraft. Just recently, a Singapore Airlines flight from London encountered severe turbulence, resulting in 31 injuries and one fatality. Passengers aboard the Boeing 777-300ER reported that the plane began to tilt and shake before dropping suddenly, causing people and objects to be thrown around the cabin. In another case almost immediately after that turbulence on Doha-Dublin flight left 12 injured.

 

 

The pressing question is whether there could be better ways to predict and cope with turbulence. Some researchers believe that the answers might lie in studying birds. Birds frequently navigate choppy skies, and while only a few species reach the cruising altitudes of commercial aircraft, studying their responses at lower altitudes could provide insights. Emily Shepard, an expert in bird flight and air flow at Swansea University in Wales, suggests that understanding how birds adapt to extreme turbulence could help meteorologists build better predictive models and inform aircraft design, especially for smaller aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in urban environments.

 

According to a 2024 study, aircraft encounter moderate to severe turbulence approximately 68,000 times each year. Turbulence, defined as an irregular motion of the air caused by eddies and vertical currents, is associated with weather events such as fronts, wind shear, and thunderstorms. It can range from a few uncomfortable bumps to chaotic rolls, pitches, and yaws that can throw an aircraft out of control.

 

Modern aircraft are equipped with sophisticated weather radar systems that allow pilots to identify and navigate around areas of turbulence. Paul Williams, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading, states, "We can successfully predict around 75% of turbulence up to 18 hours ahead." However, certain types of turbulence, such as clear-air turbulence, are harder to detect. Clear-air turbulence occurs at high altitudes where aircraft cruise in seemingly calm skies. It is invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by onboard sensors or satellites, posing a significant risk as it can strike without warning.

 

 

Clear-air turbulence is becoming more common due to climate change. Williams explains, "In simple terms, climate change is increasing the temperature difference between the warm and cold air masses that collide to form the jet stream in the upper atmosphere. This effect is making the jet stream less stable and allowing more turbulence to break out." Meteorologists are now seeking to develop better forecasting methods using computer modeling. Interestingly, birds' experiences with the winds could provide valuable data for these models.

 

Previous studies have shown that animal movements can help determine the strength of thermal updrafts, wind direction, and wind speed. Researchers from Swansea University believe that birds' interactions with turbulence could help improve predictions. Birds often migrate thousands of miles, with wind speed, direction, and turbulence dictating their routes and energy expenditure. Frigate birds, for example, rely on thermals and wind to stay aloft for months and can fly at extreme altitudes of up to 13,000 feet. They often catch strong updrafts in mountainous cumulus clouds, navigating incredibly turbulent environments with remarkable control.

 

Shepard and her colleagues at Swansea University's Laboratory for Animal Movement aim to "visualize the invisible" by studying how birds respond to turbulence. By equipping birds with tags that measure GPS, barometric pressure, and acceleration, researchers can map the air's behavior during flights. This approach could be more cost-effective and comprehensive than using sensors fitted to aircraft, as birds can fly in conditions that planes cannot. In one study from 2018 to 2019, Shepard's team flew an ultralight aircraft alongside a flock of homing pigeons. They measured turbulence levels during the birds' flights using data loggers attached to the pigeons. Despite encountering turbulence that forced the pilot to land, the pigeons returned to their lofts without issue, indicating their superior ability to cope with high levels of turbulence.

 

Bird-borne sensors could provide continuous data collection on air turbulence, much like seal-borne sensors used to measure ocean salinity and temperature. Shepard notes, "People are already equipping animals with tags for lots of different reasons and in lots of different environments. They're effectively sampling in the environment all the time." Birds could serve as mobile meteorological sensors, offering valuable data about the turbulence they encounter along their flight paths.

 

In another study from 2020, Shepard and her colleagues followed the flight of Andean condors, the world's heaviest soaring birds. They documented the condors' altitude gains and recorded each wingbeat. The data revealed that the condors spent 99% of their flight time in glide mode without flapping, covering vast distances with minimal energy expenditure. This insight into how soaring birds exploit thermals could inform the programming of autonomous flying vehicles.

 

Understanding how gulls navigate turbulence in urban environments could also help plan flight paths for UAVs and drones. Urban areas are particularly turbulent due to obstacles that disturb air flow, posing challenges for low-altitude flights near buildings. Shepard highlights that urbanization is contributing to more turbulent skies, affecting both animal flight and human aviation.

 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has sounded the alarm on climate change's impact on transportation, warning that it is already affecting modes of transit. Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," Buttigieg said, "The reality is, the effects of climate change are already upon us in terms of our transportation. We've seen that in the form of everything from heat waves that shouldn’t statistically even be possible, threatening to melt the cables of transit systems in the Pacific Northwest, to hurricane seasons becoming more and more extreme and indications that turbulence is up by about 15 percent. That means assessing anything and everything that we can do about it."

 

Biden’s Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg blames aircraft TURBULENCE on Climate Change.

“The reality is the effects of climate change are already upon us…indications that turbulence is up by about 15%.”

pic.twitter.com/W0mU2etl9R

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 26, 2024

Buttigieg's comments came shortly after the deadly turbulence incident on the Singapore Airlines flight, highlighting the increasing need for preparedness and adaptation to the changing climate. While extreme incidents remain rare, the rise in turbulence due to climate change necessitates evolving policies, technology, and infrastructure to ensure safety in aviation.

 

Research from the University of Reading has shown that severe in-air turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020, a trend consistent with the effects of climate change. As our climate continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to understanding and mitigating the risks associated with turbulent skies. By learning from birds and improving predictive models, we can better navigate the challenges posed by increasingly turbulent air travel.

 

Credit: BBC & The Hill 2024-05-28

 

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[RichardColeman]

Turbulence or Obesity of the travellers ? 

 

Any one ever travelling from the UK ever noticed they always seems to serve breakfast over where the sea of Bengal hits land causing huge turbulence and tea spilling ? 

[Darksidedude]

what a load of nonsense

[JonnyF]

More climate alarmism from the BBC. 

 

Is there anything they do not find a way to blame on climate change? 😄

[bamnutsak]

12 people injured during turbulence on Qatar Airways flight

 

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/26/world/qatar-airways-turbulence-dublin-injured-intl/index.html

 

 

 

[Red Forever]

12 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

More climate alarmism from the BBC. 

 

Is there anything they do not find a way to blame on climate change? 😄

Typical climate change denial.

Research carried out by the University of Reading found that 

14 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

More climate alarmism from the BBC. 

 

Is there anything they do not find a way to blame on climate change? 😄

Typical climate change denial.

Research carried out by the University of Reading found that increases in turbulence events are consistent with the effects of climate change.

The BBC reported these findings.

Deniers find scientific evidence hard to swallow but facts are facts and conspiracy theories are erm......fairy stories.

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

Typical climate change denial.

Research carried out by the University of Reading found that 

Typical climate change denial.

Research carried out by the University of Reading found that increases in turbulence events are consistent with the effects of climate change.

The BBC reported these findings.

Deniers find scientific evidence hard to swallow but facts are facts and conspiracy theories are erm......fairy stories.

 

In that case, presumably the climate has cooled since the spike of turbulence incidents in the 90's?

 

Must have been REALLY hot between 1997 and 2003. 😃

 

2013 must have been freezing. 

 

https://icao.usmission.gov/air-carrier-turbulence-related-injuries-can-be-reduced-ntsb-finds/

 

[JCauto]

The usual climate change denial by the armchair scientists of ASEAN Now. If only their love of beer and poxy ho's hadn't gotten in the way of their ground-breaking research, then they'd have disproven in long ago...

[wombat]

[placeholder]

27 minutes ago, wombat said:

I can't remember a time when climate change denialists such as yourself gave any evidence that the understood the difference between climate and weather.

[Keep Right]

More nonsense from the left wing climate alarmists. The sky is falling, the sky is falling..........

[charleskerins]

4 hours ago, Darksidedude said:

what a load of nonsense

 

1 hour ago, Keep Right said:

More nonsense from the left wing climate alarmists. The sky is falling, the sky is falling..........

sure   sure  sure    hey it wasn't the sky that fell it was the airplane  555     one dead       he probably thought it was nonsense too   now he no longer thinks          arrogant ignorance is costly    carry on 

[charleskerins]

2 hours ago, wombat said:

Try buying a clue ; are you proud of being this stupid?  I'm so old I remember when the sea level in  Southern USA beaches  was 6inches lower and that was 14 years ago.    

[charleskerins]

2 hours ago, JCauto said:

The usual climate change denial by the armchair scientists of ASEAN Now. If only their love of beer and poxy ho's hadn't gotten in the way of their ground-breaking research, then they'd have disproven in long ago...

It's one thing to be stupid it's another thing to be proud of it.    

[nauseus]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Turbulence or Obesity of the travellers ? 

 

Any one ever travelling from the UK ever noticed they always seems to serve breakfast over where the sea of Bengal hits land causing huge turbulence and tea spilling ? 

I guess the only option is to have brekky about two hours after dinner, then.

 

The story describes clear-air turbulence as occurring at high altitudes where aircraft “cruise” – cruising levels for commercial international flights are typically 30-40 thousand feet. The story then goes on to call 13,00ft an “extreme” altitude – probably is – but that’s just for the birds!.

 

The SQ flight arrived over southern Myanmar coincident with the very early arrival of the eastern extension of the SW Monsoon (in the same area) and this surge caused rare and very unstable weather conditions over the Andaman Sea, plus heavier rain in central Thailand last week.

 

I just hope that not too much grant cash will be wasted on this study.     

[AgMech Cowboy]

9 hours ago, Darksidedude said:

what a load of nonsense

I was going to make a similar statement, but you said it much more politely.

[nauseus]

4 hours ago, nauseus said:

I guess the only option is to have brekky about two hours after dinner, then.

 

The story describes clear-air turbulence as occurring at high altitudes where aircraft “cruise” – cruising levels for commercial international flights are typically 30-40 thousand feet. The story then goes on to call 13,00ft an “extreme” altitude – probably is – but that’s just for the birds!.

 

The SQ flight arrived over southern Myanmar coincident with the very early arrival of the eastern extension of the SW Monsoon (in the same area) and this surge caused rare and very unstable weather conditions over the Andaman Sea, plus heavier rain in central Thailand last week.

 

I just hope that not too much grant cash will be wasted on this study.     

 

Correction to the above:  should read  The story then goes on to call 13,000ft an “extreme” altitude......

[AgMech Cowboy]

5 hours ago, charleskerins said:

Southern USA beaches  was 6inches lower and that was 14 years ago.    

And which Southern Beaches were those? Copy and past the below link in your browser for Key West Florida.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFNZka07Rso

[Lee65]

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Is there anything they do not find a way to blame on climate change? 😄

 

In today's news twist ...

 

Antisemitism Found to be Accelerating Climate Change

 

 

 

 

 

[placeholder]

3 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

And which Southern Beaches were those? Copy and past the below link in your browser for Key West Florida.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFNZka07Rso

400 to 1,100% Increase

The U.S. Southeast Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions saw an increase of over 400 to 1,100 percent, respectively, in high tide flooding days compared to the year 2000.

https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/recurrent-tidal-flooding.html

[charleskerins]

3 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

And which Southern Beaches were those? Copy and past the below link in your browser for Key West Florida.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFNZka07Rso

• Tide gauges from Texas to North Carolina show a sea level rise of at least 6 inches since 2010, mirroring the previous half-century's rise.
• The region faces multiple secondary effects, such as failing septic systems and higher insurance rates, alongside increased flooding.

[charleskerins]

3 hours ago, Lee65 said:

 

In today's news twist ...

 

Antisemitism Found to be Accelerating Climate Change

 

 

 

 

 

the sheer stupidity 

 

13 hours ago, JonnyF said:

More climate alarmism from the BBC. 

 

Is there anything they do not find a way to blame on climate change? 😄

the sheer stupidity of some of the posts

[Lee65]

3 hours ago, charleskerins said:

the sheer stupidity 

 

the sheer stupidity of some of the posts

 

Tomorrow's headlines:

 

Climate Change: Is Stupidity the Reason?

 

Overheating Birds Make Global Turbulence Worse

 

EVs Keep 8-year-old Miners Employed - and Muscular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[still kicking]

15 hours ago, Keep Right said:

More nonsense from the left wing climate alarmists. The sky is falling, the sky is falling..........

Have some cool aid 

[charleskerins]

7 hours ago, still kicking said:

Have some cool aid 

orange flavored

[Fortean1]

Here is a discussion which begins aimlessly, then gets into weather, climate, and environmentalism.  I don't know the detailed background of Dr. Patrick Moore.  His comments do make sense or maybe he is a shill for the petroleum industry.

 

This is almost two hours.  I watched the whole thing.  Please see:

 

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, Fortean1 said:

Here is a discussion which begins aimlessly, then gets into weather, climate, and environmentalism.  I don't know the detailed background of Dr. Patrick Moore.  His comments do make sense or maybe he is a shill for the petroleum industry.

 

This is almost two hours.  I watched the whole thing.  Please see:

 

 I find it very difficult to believe that anybody sits through sits through 2 hours of something like this without being a firm believer beforehand.

Moore is a serial liar. He has repeatedly claimed to be a founder of Greenpeace. That's a lie. Basically, he's a shill for polluting industries.

https://www.desmog.com/patrick-moore/