Expert: You must fasten your seat belt. Did Singapore Airlines encounter "clear air turbulence"? Climate change will increase severe turbulence Airflow | Turbulence | Increase

According to reports, a Singapore Airlines passenger plane encountered severe turbulence during the flight on the 21st and subsequently made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The accident resulted in one death and dozens of injuries. There were no Chinese passengers on board.

Experts point out that aviation accidents are mostly related to turbulence, but few cause serious casualties. In the future, severe turbulence events will become more frequent due to the impact of climate change, so it is crucial to wear seat belts when flying.

According to Singapore Airlines, the Boeing 777-300ER passenger plane was flying from London to Singapore, with 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board. It encountered severe air turbulence on the way and was diverted to the airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Previously, many Thai media reported that two people were killed in the accident, and one person was later confirmed dead. The deceased was a 73-year-old British citizen who died of a suspected heart attack.

According to some passengers, people and items in the cabin were thrown or overturned when they encountered airflow, and the scene was "extremely terrifying."

Photos from the scene showed oxygen masks and panels hanging from the cabin ceiling, luggage scattered everywhere, meals and drinks spilled on the floor, and a mess.

Passengers said they heard horrific screams and a thumping sound in the first few seconds.

Passenger Zafran Azmir said that people who were not wearing seat belts were immediately thrown to the ceiling. Some people hit the luggage compartment, some hit the panel above the seat, and some were hit with bloody heads. .

Singapore Airlines is regarded as a safety benchmark by the industry. Except for a fatal crash in 2000, it has not had any major accidents in recent years. After the incident, the CEO of Singapore Airlines issued a video apology.

Anyone who has flown on an airplane has this experience. There is often a turbulent feeling when encountering airflow, and flight attendants will also remind passengers to fasten their seat belts.

Air flow is also commonly referred to as "turbulence." Turbulence is caused by the irregular flow of the atmosphere and occurs mostly where air flows of different speeds, directions or temperatures meet. Thunderstorms, jet streams, jet streams, temperature changes, terrain factors, etc. can all cause turbulence.

Most turbulence is mild and causes only a slight rocking or descent of the aircraft. However, when encountering "ferocious" turbulence, the aircraft will experience violent turbulence, the altitude may change dramatically, and it may even temporarily lose control.

Among them, "clear air turbulence" is particularly dangerous. This kind of turbulence is usually "hidden" in the seemingly cloudless sky, leaving no trace and cannot even be detected by radar. One of the main areas where clear air turbulence occurs is over the Pacific Ocean.

Some aviation experts and climate experts believe that what Singapore Airlines encountered may have been clear-air turbulence.

An obvious sign is that the passenger plane suddenly fell rapidly from an altitude of 11,280 meters and did not maintain its altitude until 9,450 meters, which is equivalent to a "cliff-like" fall of 1,830 meters in 4 minutes.

Hong Kong Meteorological Society spokesman Leung Wing-wu analyzed that there are only two situations that can cause a plane to crash in a short period of time. One is encountering severe weather, such as thunderstorms or typhoons. However, Thailand is not currently suffering from typhoons, and the radar on the plane can also predict thunderstorm clouds, so the possibility of severe weather is low. The other is when encountering clear-air turbulence, which causes the plane to bump violently and plummet.

However, Liang Rongwu emphasized that strong convection will occur throughout the year along the equator, and airlines need to disclose more information before making a judgment.

Data from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board shows that most aviation accidents are related to turbulence, accounting for more than one-third.

Aviation safety experts say turbulence can pose dangers to passengers, but so far it has rarely resulted in major casualties.

Experts also pointed out that severe turbulence can not only cause harm to passengers, but also cause damage to aircraft.

However, given the stringent design and construction standards of modern aircraft with a strong focus on safety, it is unlikely that the aircraft will be destroyed by turbulence.

A study last year by the University of Reading in the UK showed that more severe turbulence may occur in the future due to the impact of climate change.

Researchers found that severe turbulence on the North Atlantic Ocean Route, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, increased by about 55% between 1979 and 2020. The reason is that carbon emissions cause the climate to warm so much that wind speeds at high altitudes change.

The study also found the largest increases in turbulence over the North Atlantic and the continental United States, with significant increases also over Europe, the Middle East and the South Atlantic. What's more, the increase in turbulence exceeds climate model expectations for current levels of global warming.

Another recent study published in the journal Nature Climate Change also showed that climate change is distorting the jet stream, making strong winds in the upper atmosphere faster.

Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Reading in the UK, warned that severe turbulence events could double or even triple in the coming decades if climate change is allowed to develop.

Experts advise that it's important to wear a seat belt as some dangerous turbulence can be unpredictable. "This is a matter of life and death," said Sarah Nelson, president of the American Association of Flight Attendants.

In addition, passengers can check their flight's turbulence forecast on the free website Turbli.com to stay informed.