Brace Yourselves for the Worst Airplane Turbulence Ever, Scientists Warn

By Krisana Estaura, | April 09, 2017

An average 790 episodes of turbulence every year results in 55 serious injuries to flight attendants and passengers traveling with scheduled US carriers. (YouTube)

A study has warned that passengers would experience a dramatic increase in severe airplane turbulence in the years to come as climate change worsens.



According to USA Today, a new study by researchers from the University of Reading warns that turbulence could become more severe as more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.




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The study, which was published in the Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, estimates that moderate-to-severe turbulence will more than double by the end of the century. This is based on a supercomputer simulations test conducted to find out how turbulence will change at 39,000 feet when the levels of carbon dioxide double.



The study, led by Dr. Paul Williams, predicts a 149 percent increase in severe turbulence, moderate-to-severe by 127 percent, light-to-moderate by 75 percent, and light turbulence by 59 percent.



"For most passengers, light turbulence is nothing more than an annoying inconvenience that reduces their comfort levels, but for nervous fliers, even light turbulence can be distressing," he said. "Even the most seasoned frequent fliers may be alarmed at the prospect of a 149% increase in severe turbulence, which frequently hospitalizes air travelers and flight attendants around the world."



According to the New Scientist, a patch of turbulence could only last for five minutes, covering a distance of 60 kilometers and is one kilometer thick.



According to researchers, an average 790 episodes of turbulence every year results in 55 serious injuries to flight attendants and passengers traveling with scheduled US carriers. Moreover, the same turbulent flights are estimated to cause 687 minor injuries to flight attendants and 120 to passengers.



The New Scientist, however, noted that the actual injury rate could be much higher as many incidents are not reported.Based on other estimates, severe turbulence could reportedly account for 5,000 encounters annually.

