I Just Learned Severe Turbulence Has Jumped 55% Since 1979—Climate Change Is Literally Shaking Us Up
So I just stumbled on this study that completely blew my mind—apparently, severe turbulence on flights has increased by 55% since 1979, and climate change is the main culprit. As someone who flies pretty often (and lowkey dreads turbulence every time), this hit home.
I used to think turbulence was just part of the ride—something pilots could usually dodge with tech and forecasting. But this study points out that clear-air turbulence (the kind that shows up with zero warning) is becoming more common, especially over the North Atlantic. That’s where flights between the U.S. and Europe usually go, and guess what? That area’s seeing the worst spike.
What’s wild is that we’re not even talking about storms here. This is turbulence caused by shifting wind patterns in the jet stream—directly influenced by rising global temperatures. More heat = more unstable air = more unexpected shaking.
Honestly, it makes me think about how deeply climate change is embedded in stuff we never used to question. I mean, next time I buckle up on a plane, I’ll definitely be wondering if I’m about to hit a bumpy patch that’s part of this larger, global shift.
If you’re like me and thought climate change was mostly about melting ice caps and rising sea levels—this study is a reminder that it’s also creeping into our daily lives in real-time. Even 35,000 feet up.
Curious to know—have you felt turbulence getting worse lately? Or is it just me?
