How clear air turbulence is generated

Originally published on February 20, 2014

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Six passengers and two crew members were injured on Tuesday when a Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific plane from San Francisco encountered severe clear air turbulence over Japan.

Air turbulence is often associated with bad weather and pilots are trained to avoid visible signs of turbulence, such as cumulous clouds. However, clear air turbulence is a kind of erratic air current that cannot be seen, detected by radar or predicted.

Clear air turbulence usually are generated in the high troposphere, where the main jet streams, fast-flowing, narrow bands of strong wind, are located. Clear air turbulence is created when a plane moves across the edges of a jet stream, and it is strongest when generated on the cold side of a jet stream.

Aircraft are also susceptible to clear air turbulence when passing mountainous terrain, which disturbs the horizontal flow of air.

Scientists say global warming could lead to more frequent instances of clear air turbulence, as jet streams will be shifted by climatic changes.

CBS reported that an average of 33 people were injured by turbulence on U.S. flights between 2002 and 2011. Most of were cabin crew, as they were often not seated and buckled up.

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