Global Alliance of Universities on Climate’s Post

"In a 2023 study, researchers at the University of Reading found that turbulence was getting more common over the North Atlantic. It said that over a typical point, the most severe type of clear air turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020". "This is linked to the north polar jet stream. Its tailwinds are why flying from the US to Europe is faster than flying from Europe to the US". "It's linked to the relationship between two layers of the Earth's atmosphere. The lowest one is the troposphere, where the temperature cools as you get higher. Above that is the stratosphere, where the temperature is constant". "What's happening with climate change is the troposphere is getting warmer, the lower stratosphere is actually getting slightly colder." "The increasing difference in energy between the two layers means more energy goes into the jet stream".

According to experts, climate change is anticipated to exacerbate turbulence incidents for air travellers. A study conducted by the University of Reading in England, published last year, revealed a significant increase in clear-air turbulence over the North Atlantic, one of the world's busiest flight routes, between 1979 and 2020. This rise, has been attributed to warmer temperatures impacting wind patterns. The report underscores greenhouse gas emissions as the primary driver behind this concerning trend. https://lnkd.in/gp6gS2HJ

https://lnkd.in/dnKN-EQD Severe turbulence can put even seasoned flyers on edge and in extreme cases result in casualties and damage. Experts say climate change will make it worse.

In 2013 Nature published the following article: “Intensification of winter transatlantic aviation turbulence in response to climate change” Then was the time of “Increased shear in the North Atlantic upper level jet stream over the past fpur decades” That’s why the recent main tragic incident occurred to the Singapore Airlines Boeing does not surprised me, as well, I believe, many people who are paying attention to climate change since at least a decade. Scientists are taking the risk of saying (and writing) what they find and see through their researches which show what is going to happen with high probability. In recent years despite collecting so many empiric evidences from increasing frequency and intensity of storms, hurricanes, floods, turbulences, heat weave, skepticism and the will to not listen the ‘inconvenient’ data and fact seems still prevailing. We fear to admit that something relevant shouldnbe change, because that change Usually, choosing the changes to pursue in advance, to prevent, is considered a wise decision than waiting for the last minute when external events will impose the bigger and more painful change that could not be avoided anymore. Hope, being positive and optimism are good and great attitude, unless they are used to hide ornavoid actual data, fact and mostly correct and meaningful forecast. It’s not too late, but tomorrow is later.

✈️New research shows that although modern planes emit less carbon than older aircraft, they may be contributing more to #ClimateChange through #Contrails ☁️📈 To reduce jet fuel consumption, modern aircraft are designed to fly at higher altitudes: this creates less carbon emissions per passenger 📉 However, higher altitudes also create contrails that take longer to dissipate – creating a warming effect for longer ⬆️☁️ The study also found that private jets 💸 produce more contrails than previously thought, adding to concerns about the impact of the super rich on #ClimateChange through excessive use of these aircraft. Learn more about the research 👉https://ow.ly/x35Q50SSaMV

How much has Alaska warmed by? While global average warming recently broke the 1.5 °C level for the first time, parts of Alaska have changed by 9.5 °C, or 17.3°F. This dramatic arctic warming mirrors the surge in polar flights. They jumped from nearly zero pre-1999 to 5,000 by 2012, with expectations to double by 2025. Airlines are hoping to shift to 10% sustainable fuel by 2030, but this will provide little help to the Arctic. But what if aviation could find a direct way to eliminate its environmental impact? Innovative companies like Sirius Jet may have a solution for this. They recently introduced a Hydrogen Jet with Zero Emissions with plans to reach up to 1800 miles in range by 2025 with the first model. With later models including a Blended Wing Body (BWB) design like the B2 Stealth Bomber by 2030 which could help with these Polar Flights.

There have been a number of high profile incidents of turbulence on passenger aircraft in recent weeks and months. It looks like a problem that's not only here to stay, but one that is likely to get worse. Very interesting piece from Prof Marina Efthymiou on how we can expect more frequent, and more intense, air turbulence as a result of climate change. https://lnkd.in/eWXk_yqd

A new study by Imperial College London has found that higher flying aircraft create longer lasting contrails and thus likely more warming. However, long-haul flights, which usually operate at higher altitudes, have been excluded from the scope of the EU non-CO2 emissions monitoring mechanism, overlooking two thirds of aviation’s contrail climate impact. T&E calls upon the EU Commission to listen to the growing number of arguments underlying the need to reverse to the original full scope agreed by co-legislators. The IC study has also confirmed the link between jet fuel composition and contrail climate impact, showing SAFs, and while their production is being scaled up, jet fuels that are high quality, low-aromatic and low-sulfur, such as those created through hydrotreatment, are crucial. See our comments and the whole story in @newscientist 👇 👇 https://lnkd.in/egVtkr9k

Definitely an interesting insight on emissions in high-altitude, that could be leading to even worse effects. Transport & Environment (T&E) super post!

Hmmm - not sure that new aircraft contrail more because they're designed to fly higher. More data required to convince me. I don't doubt that newer types were observed generating more contrails - I know and trust one of the authors of the paper - Marc Stettler However, although technology might have a small effect, I suspect the main cause of the new aircraft flying higher is the different relative positions of the two types in their respective family plans. The paper does not identify the 2 types - I think the older aircraft is a 767-300ER and the newer one a 787-8, based on the paper's description. The following also applies for the A350-900 and A330-300 (if they are the 2 types in the paper). If one of these guesses is correct, the 767-300ER cruise altitudes should be compared with 787-10's as both represent their type's sizing variants. The 787-8 uses the same wing as the -10 with much lower weights (so it flies higher) - just as the 767-200ER does. https://lnkd.in/eCT3-tPd