In the below story the AP couldn’t help themselves from adding Climate Change into the in equation where turbulence left one dead and several injured.
The death of a British man and injuries to dozens of other people aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence Tuesday highlight the potential dangers of flying through unstable air. Based on witness accounts, the number of injuries and the airliner’s sharp descent, experts point to the significant safety hazards that in-flight turbulence poses.
What is turbulence and can pilots avoid it: Turbulence is unstable air that moves in a non-predictable fashion. Most people associate it with heavy storms. But the most dangerous type is clear-air turbulence, which often occurs with no visible warning in the sky ahead. Pilots can use a weather radar display to avoid turbulence or they can fly around thunderstorms. But clear-air turbulence “is altogether another animal,” according to Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant.
Climate change and its impact on turbulence: Some scientists note that reports of turbulence encounters are on the rise. There are a number of possible explanations for that, but several researchers have pointed to potential climate impacts. In a statement Tuesday, Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England, said there was “strong evidence that turbulence is increasing because of climate change.”
How travelers can stay safe: Buckle up. Turbulence can be tricky to predict, but experts stress that the first line of defense in the air is keeping the seat belt fastened, whenever possible. “Planes are generally built to withstand turbulence,” Guinn said, noting that not wearing seat belts is a large source of injuries from in-flight turbulence.
