- By Chetna Shree
- Sat, 30 Aug 2025 06:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Imagine cruising smoothly at around 30,000 feet, when suddenly the plane shakes, like it hit a pothole in the sky. That’s turbulence, and according to scientists, it could happen more often. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, climate change is disrupting high-altitude jet streams, which are powerful bands of winds that guide planes across continents.
Scientists suggest that shifts in wind shear are making the atmosphere more unstable, which can increase the risk of dangerous turbulence in the flights ahead. According to the latest findings published in the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, “Jet stream wind shear could become 16 to 27 per cent stronger while the overall air stability could decrease by 10 to 20 per cent by the end of the century.” These changes are expected to affect both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
What Do The Senior Researchers Say?
- Joanna Medeiros, the lead author of the study and a PhD researcher, said that the combination of stronger wind shear and less stable air creates an ideal condition for Clear Air Turbulence (CAT).
- Clear Air Turbulence is especially dangerous because it hits unexpectedly without any warning and cannot be detected by radar.
- Compared to the turbulence created by storms, CAT is more dangerous as it leaves pilots and passengers unprepared, making it harder to prevent injuries.
- Previous studies from the University of Reading have shown that severe turbulence cases have increased by about 55 per cent between 1970 and 2020.
The findings of the latest study were based on 26 global climate models. The findings reveal that the most significant warming is intense around 35,000 feet, which is the cruising altitude of most commercial aircraft.
Scientists have warned that turbulence has already led to serious injuries and, in rare cases, fatalities in recent years. Professor Paul Williams, a co-author and leading atmospheric scientist, said, “In light of what we know, it is likely that pilots will need to keep the seatbelt sign on more frequently in the decades ahead.”