Scientists say flights will get bumpier due to the impact of global warming.
A group of scientists recently took up a study where they conducted an analysis of the effects of global warming and the impact it will have on the weather system in the next four decades. They found that flight rides will get bumpier due to the climatic changes taking place.
"Air turbulence does more than just interrupt the service of in-flight drinks," said Paul Williams from the University of Reading and led of the study. It injures hundreds of passengers and aircrew every year. It also causes delays and damages planes, with the total cost to society being about £100m each year."
During the study, researchers used the same turbulence models that air traffic controllers use every day. It was discovered that that the frequency of turbulence on many flights between Europe and North America will double by 2050 and its intensity will increase by 10-40 percent.
"Rerouting flights to avoid stronger patches of turbulence could increase fuel consumption and carbon emissions, make delays at airports more common, and ultimately push up ticket prices," Williams said.
"Clear-air turbulence is especially problematic to airliners, because it is invisible to pilots and satellites," said Manoj Joshi at the University of East Anglia, who also worked on the new study.
The findings of this research were published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
