Turbulence isn’t that scary – what is it and how does it work?

🕗 4 minutes | March 22, 2024 | Text Mateusz Łapuć

Experiencing turbulence during a flight? No need to worry! If you've ever been on a plane, you've likely felt vibrations and slight jolts mid-flight. Perhaps the seatbelt sign lit up, and you noticed the wing moving slightly? This was most likely air turbulence, a phenomenon that can be compared to driving on a bumpy road. While turbulence might feel unsettling, there’s no reason for concern. But what exactly is turbulence, and why does it happen?

To understand why turbulence is nothing to fear, let’s start with the definition.

Turbulence refers to irregular air movements around an aircraft. During a flight, a plane can enter air pockets where wind speed, temperature, and direction change rapidly. These fluctuations cause the familiar shaking sensation—which is simply air turbulence.

Additionally, depending on the altitude and speed, different weather anomalies may arise, which we’ll explore further in this article.

Several factors contribute to turbulence:

🔹 Convective Currents

• Caused by heated air rising from the Earth's surface.
• Sun-warmed air becomes lighter and ascends, leading to turbulence.

🔹 Air Masses and Atmospheric Fronts

• Changes in wind speed, temperature, and air density cause turbulence.

🔹 Geographic Features and Physical Barriers

• Coastlines, mountains, hills, and forests disrupt airflow, creating turbulence.

Before a flight, pilots receive detailed weather reports outlining potential turbulence zones. While turbulence poses no risk to the aircraft, pilots adjust altitude, speed, or route to minimize discomfort, especially in areas of expected strong turbulence.

Turbulence can occur anywhere, but some regions experience it more frequently due to atmospheric conditions, convective air currents, and terrain features.

🌍 Most turbulence-prone areas:

• Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans (rapid air current shifts).
• Mountain ranges (Alps, Andes, Himalayas).

Turbulence comes in different forms, each with unique causes. Understanding these categories will help explain why turbulence can occur even on seemingly calm days.

Flight safety is a top priority for airlines worldwide. Despite turbulence feeling uncomfortable, there are established procedures and technologies to mitigate its effects.

If turbulence occurs during your flight:
✅ Keep your seatbelt fastened.
✅ Remain calm—turbulence is a routine part of flying.
✅ Trust your pilots and cabin crew, who are trained to manage these situations.
✅ Remember that modern aircraft have stabilization technology to counteract turbulence.