All articles tagged with #jet streams
Flying against Earth's rotation does not speed up flights because objects and atmosphere move with the Earth due to inertia and frictional forces, and jet streams—fast-moving air currents influenced by Earth's rotation—affect flight durations more than the Earth's spin itself.
A new study led by the University of Chicago warns that climate change is causing the jet streams to speed up, resulting in more violent updrafts and downdrafts that lead to severe turbulence for planes. The study found that global warming intensifies the contrast between cold, dense air at the poles and warm, light air in the tropics, causing faster wind speeds in the jet streams. This increase in turbulence could lead to more injuries and even deaths on flights. Additionally, the faster jet streams could also impact weather patterns on the ground, potentially leading to more severe weather events.
A study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that as climate change progresses, the fastest upper-level jet stream winds will accelerate by about 2% for every degree Celsius of warming, surpassing the average wind speed by 2.5 times. This increase in wind speed is expected to lead to decreased flight times, increased clear-air turbulence, and a potential rise in severe weather events. The research highlights the need for policymakers to address the impact of climate change on jet streams and plan for the future.