Scientists discover that global warming causes increased turbulence

Global warming has a direct impact on the growth of turbulence. A recent study by researchers at the University of Reading in England gives some insight into how this phenomenon has changed over the past few decades.

The authors of the article say that their study "is the best evidence yet that [turbulence in clean air] has increased over the past four decades, consistent with the expected effects of climate change," CNBS reports.

"At a typical point over the North Atlantic - one of the busiest routes in the world, - the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55% from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 27.4 hours in 2020," the report says.

In addition, it is reported that moderate turbulence jumped from 70.0 to 96.1 hours, while light turbulence reached 546.8 hours from 466.5.

The scientists said that warm air from carbon dioxide emissions "increases wind shear in jet streams, increasing clear air turbulence in the North Atlantic and around the world.

"If we don't do something drastic, we're going to have even more turbulence in the coming decades," says Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading and co-author of the study