English: Turbulence / Deutsch: Turbulenz / Español: Turbulencia / Português: Turbulência / Français: Turbulence / Italiano: Turbolenza /
Turbulence is commonly observed in everyday phenomena such as surf, fast flowing rivers, billowing storm clouds, or smoke from a chimney, and most fluid flows occurring in nature or created in engineering applications are turbulent.
In the aerospace context, turbulence refers to the chaotic and unpredictable movement of air that can affect aircrafts in flight. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as changes in wind direction and speed, temperature gradients, and the presence of other weather phenomena like thunderstorms. Turbulence can be classified as either clear air turbulence (CAT), which occurs without visible clouds or other weather, or convective turbulence, which is caused by thunderstorms and other convective weather.
Examples of how turbulence can impact aircraft include:
- Light turbulence: which can cause a mild discomfort to passengers, and a slight deviation from the planned flight path.
- Moderate turbulence: can cause a rough ride and some difficulty walking in the cabin. It can also cause spills and minor injuries to some passengers.
- Severe turbulence: can cause structural damage to an aircraft, and can cause serious injuries to passengers and crew members. It can also cause significant deviation from the planned flight path.
To mitigate the effects of turbulence, pilots use weather forecasting and monitoring systems to avoid areas of known turbulence, and may alter the flight path or altitude of the aircraft to avoid it. Passengers are also instructed to fasten their seat belts during flight to prevent injuries during unexpected turbulence.