Air turbulence

Clear air turbulence
Atmospheric turbulence

Nature

Turbulence is one of the major causes of aircraft accidents which are brought about by structural failure, forced gains or losses of altitude (up to thousands of feet), or loss of control. The term turbulence in meteorology normally refers to atmospheric motions smaller than the scale which is designated as the mean flow, and therefore encompasses a wide spectrum of motions. Only a relatively narrow band of turbulence is a significant problem for aircraft flight. There are several types of turbulence: convective (near cumulo-nimbus clouds and thunderstorms), low-level clear-air turbulence (caused either by rough terrain or vortices in a large aircraft's wake), violent air motion near mountains (mountain waves), and high-level clear-air turbulence (above 20,000 feet). The latter form of turbulence is particularly hazardous since it is difficult to detect by radar and could prove especially dangerous to supersonic aircraft.

Background

Air turbulence emerged as a significant global concern with the expansion of commercial aviation in the mid-20th century, when unexplained in-flight incidents prompted scientific investigation. The phenomenon gained further attention following high-profile accidents and increased passenger reports of injuries. Advances in meteorology and flight data analysis have since deepened understanding, yet the unpredictable nature of turbulence—especially clear-air turbulence—continues to challenge airlines and regulators, underscoring its persistent relevance in global air travel safety.

Incidence

High-level turbulence occurs in patches with horizontal dimensions between 80 and 500 km, and vertical dimensions from 20 up to 600 metres. Between 5 and 10% of high-level turbulence is heavy, and 1 to 3% of that which occurs is violent or extreme.

Claim

Serving coffee on aircraft causes turbulence.

Counter-claim

Air turbulence is vastly overhyped as a problem. Modern aircraft are engineered to handle turbulence with ease, and pilots are thoroughly trained for such conditions. The vast majority of turbulence incidents result in nothing more than minor discomfort. Instead of fixating on turbulence, we should focus on genuine aviation concerns like maintenance and security. Worrying about turbulence is simply unnecessary fear-mongering that distracts from real issues in air travel.