Air travel to get bumpier as CO2 emissions rise, scientists say

[laserguided]

[QUOTE]LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Turbulence on transatlantic flights will become more frequent and severe by 2050 as carbon dioxide emissions rise, leading to longer journey times and increased fuel consumption, British scientists said in a study on Monday.

Any air traveller has probably experienced turbulence. It can happen without warning and is caused by climate conditions such as atmospheric pressure, jet streams, cold and warm fronts or thunderstorms.

Light turbulence shakes the aircraft, but more severe episodes can injure passengers and cause structural damage to planes, costing around an estimated $150 million a year.

Turbulence will be stronger and occur more often if carbon dioxide emissions double by 2050 as the International Energy Agency forecasts, scientists at the universities of Reading and East Anglia said in the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Carbon dioxide is one of the most potent greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. Increasing emissions raise the global average temperature, heating up the lower atmosphere.

However, warming also changes the atmosphere 10 km above ground level, making it more unstable for planes, Paul Williams at the University of Reading and co-author of the report, told Reuters.
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[url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/08/climate-airlines-turbulence-idUSL5N0CQ3CA20130408[/url]

[SweetSwifter]

For someone like me with quite severe aviophobia, this is bad news. :(

[Xieneus]

Turbulance is fun for me unless it is truly severe.

[RearAdmiral]

Isn't air travel one of the main contributors to CO2 emissions as well?

If so, I guess you reap what you sow.

[CaptainJL]

[QUOTE=Xieneus;40208178]Turbulance is fun for me unless it is truly severe.[/QUOTE]
I just keep in mind that, to date, turbulence in and of itself has never brought down an aircraft. It's a comforting notion.

[theevilldeadII]

good thing I Find Turbulance somewhat fun ( until you need to use the Washroom and have stay for an 1hr long holding it in that not fun :( )

[OogalaBoogal]

[QUOTE=RearAdmiral;40208202]Isn't air travel one of the main contributors to CO2 emissions as well?

If so, I guess you reap what you sow.[/QUOTE]

Air travel compared to cars isn't too bad, its the milage that does it. The Airbus A380 gets 78 MPG per passenger.

[A_Pigeon]

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;40208394]good thing I Find Turbulance somewhat fun ( until you need to use the Washroom and have stay for an 1hr long holding it in that not fun :( )[/QUOTE]

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