Have you ever been on a plane and felt it start to shake, making your heart race a little? That’s what we call turbulence. While it might feel scary, it’s rarely dangerous. But what exactly causes this bumpy ride?
Turbulence is that shaky feeling you get when you’re flying. It’s usually caused by something called jet streams. These are fast, narrow bands of wind that move around the Earth. They can be thousands of miles long but are only a few miles wide and deep. Flight planners know where these jet streams are and decide whether planes should fly with them (a tailwind) or against them (a headwind).
Jet streams can mix with slower-moving air, much like a river hitting its banks. This mixing creates a type of turbulence called Clear Air Turbulence. It’s called “clear” because you can’t see it coming. When a plane flies through this mixed air, it starts to shake. The tricky part is that this kind of turbulence can appear suddenly, without warning.
Planes can also experience turbulence when flying behind another aircraft. The air stirred up by the plane in front can make the ride bumpy for the one behind, especially if it’s a smaller plane. Additionally, flying through stormy weather with lots of wind can also cause turbulence.
Even though turbulence can feel intense, it’s usually not as bad as it seems. Imagine being in a small boat on a stormy sea—that’s how it might feel, but a plane is much sturdier than a boat. Turbulence can be mild, moderate, or severe. In moderate turbulence, the plane might move a bit, but it’s designed to stay on course. Severe turbulence can be more intense, possibly knocking over service carts or causing you to bounce in your seat if you’re not buckled up.
The most important thing during turbulence is to keep your seatbelt fastened. If you’re not buckled in, you could get thrown around and hurt. However, turbulence itself won’t make a plane fall from the sky. Planes are built to handle stress and have flexible wings that can withstand a lot of force. It’s very rare for turbulence to cause any serious damage to a plane.
Pilots work hard to avoid turbulence by studying weather charts, radar data, and reports from other planes. This helps ensure you can enjoy your flight without spilling your drink. But just in case, it’s always a good idea to keep your seatbelt fastened, especially when Clear Air Turbulence might strike unexpectedly.
Have you ever experienced turbulence on a flight? Share your stories in the comments or reach out on social media. And don’t forget to check back for more interesting facts and updates!
Using a large piece of paper and colored markers, draw a map of the Earth and illustrate the jet streams. Label the jet streams and use arrows to show their direction. Discuss with your classmates how these jet streams can affect airplane routes and turbulence.
In a small group, use a fan to create wind and a lightweight object like a paper airplane. Observe how the paper airplane behaves when it encounters the wind from different angles. Discuss how this relates to Clear Air Turbulence and why it can be unpredictable.
Imagine you are a pilot planning a flight. Use weather charts and reports to decide whether to fly with or against a jet stream. Present your decision to the class, explaining the reasons behind your choice and how it might affect turbulence during the flight.
Research how airplanes are designed to handle turbulence. Create a short presentation or poster that explains the safety features of airplanes and why passengers should keep their seatbelts fastened during a flight. Share your findings with the class.
Write a short story about a flight where you experience turbulence. Describe how it feels, what you see and hear, and how you stay calm. Share your story with the class and discuss how understanding turbulence can help reduce fear during a flight.
No matter how seasoned a flier you are, turbulence can send your heart racing. It’s rarely fatal, but what’s the deal with airplane turbulence?
If you’ve ever flown in an airplane, you’ve probably felt turbulence, that unsettling shaking that makes you feel like you’re about to fall. So aside from being scary, what is turbulence?
Turbulence is usually the result of jet streams—fast, narrow currents of air that travel around our planet. They can sometimes be thousands of miles long, but they’re usually only a few miles wide and deep. We know where the jet streams are and in what direction they’re traveling, and flight planners either send a plane flying against a jet stream (into a headwind) or with a jet stream (with a tailwind) on a commercial flight.
However, like a river hitting the riverbank, jet streams interact with slower-moving air. This mixing of air traveling at different speeds causes a type of turbulence called Clear Air Turbulence because it’s not visible. When a plane flies through this mixed air, it encounters turbulence. The danger of Clear Air Turbulence is that it can come out of nowhere.
It’s also possible for an airplane to hit turbulence when flying in the wake of another airplane, though this usually affects smaller planes flying behind larger ones. An airplane stirs up air in its wake, and flying through that air can lead to a bumpy ride. Additionally, flying through stormy weather with winds all around can also cause turbulence.
The good news? Turbulence often feels scarier than it is. It’s easy to imagine, during a turbulent flight, that you’re in a small boat being tossed around by a stormy sea, but a plane isn’t a boat. Turbulence can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
When it’s moderate, the plane’s altitude, bank angle, and pitch might vary slightly, but any change in its heading will be barely noticeable. Planes are designed to return to their original position if knocked to the side by winds. Severe turbulence can knock service carts over and may throw you out of your seat if you aren’t wearing your seatbelt.
In fact, that’s where you could run into trouble. If the plane is bouncing around and you’re not buckled in, you could be thrown hard enough to get hurt. However, turbulence alone isn’t going to make an airplane plummet. Airframes are engineered to withstand stress limits of both positive and negative G-loads. The wings will flex, which is a good thing. Turbulence strong enough to dislodge an engine or snap a wing is something most travelers and pilots won’t experience in their lifetimes.
So it’s really just a comfort issue. Pilots study weather charts, radar data, and real-time reports from other aircraft to avoid turbulence so you can enjoy your coffee without spilling it. But still, it’s best to keep that seatbelt fastened for when Clear Air Turbulence strikes.
Do you have any stories of turbulent flights? Let us know in the comments below or reach out to me directly on Twitter. And don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews every day of the week!
Turbulence – Irregular or chaotic flow of air or fluid, often causing sudden changes in speed and direction. – During the flight, the plane experienced turbulence, causing it to shake slightly.
Jet – A stream of fluid, such as air or water, that is forced out of a narrow opening at high speed. – The jet of air from the nozzle helped to cool down the overheated engine.
Streams – Continuous flows of fluid, such as air or water, moving in a specific direction. – Scientists study ocean currents and air streams to understand climate patterns.
Air – The invisible mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth, essential for breathing and flight. – The composition of air includes nitrogen, oxygen, and small amounts of other gases.
Flight – The act of moving through the air, typically by an aircraft or bird. – The flight of the bird was graceful as it soared across the sky.
Weather – The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. – The weather forecast predicted rain and strong winds for the weekend.
Plane – A powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces. – The plane took off smoothly from the runway, heading towards its destination.
Wind – The natural movement of air, especially in the form of a current blowing from a particular direction. – The strong wind made it difficult for the kite to stay steady in the sky.
Safe – Free from danger or risk, especially in the context of travel or experiments. – The pilot assured the passengers that it was safe to fly despite the stormy weather.
Force – A push or pull on an object that can cause it to change its velocity or direction. – The force of gravity pulls objects towards the Earth, keeping us grounded.
