Climate Change in the Air: How Warming is Shaping Your Flight Experience
June marks the start of the summer and some of us may be preparing to be jetting off for a relaxing break in a foreign country. But for some frequent flyers, they have noticed the journey is not quite as relaxing as it used to be.
A recent article in the BBC has sparked conversation amongst scientists across the country and is bringing our attention to new and important questions. Is turbulence increasing due to climate change?
What is Turbulence?
Turbulence is described as sudden and irregular movement due to the air around the plane moving in different directions as opposed to one smooth line. There are many different reasons as to why turbulence may occur, this can be due to air flowing over mountains, clouds, or even just bad weather. However, there are also cases which are described as ‘Clean Air’ turbulence which is most often unpredictable as it cannot be seen.
For the most part, turbulence is harmless, and pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with it by slowing down, turning on seatbelt signs and more. However, in severe cases, like the recent flight from London to Singapore, there is a risk of injury to passengers if seatbelts are not on, or unexpected turbulence is more severe than others.
Is turbulence getting worse?
Evidence is showing that turbulence seems to be getting more frequent and, in some cases, stronger. Scientists from Reading University found that severe turbulence has increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020 on one North Atlantic route.
One speculation was that the increase is due to changes in wind speed at high altitudes, which are influenced by warmer air caused by greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. The warmer air affects how winds move, as the temperature differences and atmospheric conditions become more pronounced due to the warming effects of these emissions.
Climate change is warming our oceans which causes more water to evaporate, adding more heat and moisture into the air. This moisture causes stronger winds, more intense rainfall, and storms. This directly impacts the severity of turbulence.
In response to this, airlines are reducing the impacts by investing in advanced technology that predicts turbulence and provides real-time updates to pilots. This allows pilots to adjust their flight path and altitude, ensuring a smoother flight experience.
How can we help?
There is a lot of scientific research that points to climate change being one of the reasons why we are experiencing more turbulence. This is not only inconvenient and uncomfortable, but turbulence is also scary to those who do not fly frequently, so how can we reduce this?
The main thing is to always listen to your flight staff and practice basic safety when on a flight. Make sure your seatbelt is on when the sign is lit up, and for your protection consider leaving your seatbelt buckled when you are in your seat so if any unexpected or severe turbulence occurs you are in the safest position you can be.
For those who are nervous flyers, or in general you want to find other more sustainable modes of transports, consider exploring alternative ways to travel. There are many trains traveling from the UK to Europe. Although these journeys may take longer, they are great ways to travel as you can explore, make stops in different cities or countries, and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Or try a staycation. Staying in the UK you can visit beautiful sights and relaxing places whilst saving carbon emissions as you will be avoiding air travel. Visit Scotland, Wales, or the Lake District for stunning mountains and lakes. Explore Durham City or Yorkshire for fun attractions, historic towns, and restaurants. Enjoy Cornwall’s sunny beaches and delicious pasties and ice cream, or take a city break in London, Newcastle, or Manchester. You can also find exciting theme parks across the country for a fun-filled getaway.
Generally, learning how to tackle the climate emergency could make a difference too. although greenhouse gases are already heating our atmosphere, we can reduce the chance of that getting worse by becoming more climate-friendly and sustainable in our day-to-day life. Climate change is an emergency we must tackle, and you can help through energy efficiency measures, daily travel changes, and more. You can read all about what we are doing as a council to address the climate emergency in our Climate Emergency Response Plan. Be sure to visit our website to learn more about how you can make a difference.
