Turbulence can be caused by updrafts or downdrafts in the air, and usually occurs when aircraft are flying through storms or over mountains. ‘Clear-air turbulence’, as the name suggests, occurs where there are no clouds, for example around the jet stream, where the speed of air flow can vary by 40–50 m s–1 (about 100 mph) inside and outside the jet stream. This difference (called ‘wind shear’) can cause vortices in the air, which, if strong enough, can cause the air to move chaotically. Updrafts and downdrafts in the air cause vertical windshear.
Pilots receive detailed weather information to minimise the amount of turbulence they fly through, and aircraft are designed to withstand the impacts. Occasionally, however, turbulence can cause injuries if passengers and cabin staff do not have their seat belts fastened, and it can cause stress to the aircraft. The greatest danger comes from clear-air turbulence, which occurs mainly in the high troposphere at altitudes of around 7000–12 000 m.
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