Climate change will increase the risk of severe turbulence on planes, research says
Climate change is set to increase the amount of severe turbulence on planes by 2050 to 2080, according to a study.
Researchers at the University of Reading in England analyzed supercomputer simulations of the future atmosphere, focusing on clear air turbulence. As it is invisible, clear air turbulence is seen as being especially problematic.
For nervous fliers, the numbers contained within the research do not make for comfortable reading.
The study projects that severe turbulence at a typical cruising altitude of 39,000 feet is set to rise by roughly 181 percent over the North Atlantic; 161 percent over Europe; 113 percent over North America; 92 percent over the North Pacific; and 64 percent over Asia.
NASA