ATPL Meteorology - Class 13: Turbulence and Windshear.

Summary

This educational video delves into the science of aircraft turbulence, explaining its causes and effects on flights. It covers mechanical turbulence from surface obstructions like mountains, thermal turbulence from rising air pockets, and wind shear from sudden wind direction changes. The video also addresses the challenges of avoiding turbulence and the importance of adjusting aircraft pitch and power to maintain performance during turbulent conditions. Additionally, it touches on clear air turbulence (CAT) associated with jet streams and the use of pilot reports to navigate such conditions.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ Turbulence is caused by environmental factors that disrupt the smooth flow of air, leading to an uncomfortable flight experience.
• 🏞️ Mechanical turbulence occurs when objects like mountains or buildings disrupt the laminar flow of air, causing turbulent flow.
• ⬆️ Thermal turbulence is caused by rising pockets of air, which can lead to bumps felt inside the aircraft and local changes in wind direction.
• 🔄 Wind shear is a sudden change in wind direction or speed, which can be vertical or horizontal, and often occurs near thunderstorms.
• ✈️ Wind shear can significantly affect an aircraft's flight path, requiring pilots to make corrections to maintain lift and avoid stalling.
• 🌀 Downbursts are strong downdrafts that can push an aircraft downward, posing a risk when flying near the ground or storms.
• 🌤️ Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) is associated with jet streams and can be hard to predict, often relying on pilot reports for awareness.
• 📉 Pilots manage turbulence by adjusting pitch and power to maintain the aircraft's speed within safe limits, ensuring both lift and control.
• 🌡️ Thermal turbulence results from temperature and pressure variations caused by the Coriolis force, leading to local changes in wind speed and direction.
• ⏱️ Microbursts and macrobursts are types of downbursts, with microbursts lasting about 10 minutes and macrobursts lasting about 20 minutes.

Q & A

What is turbulence and why does it affect flights?

Turbulence is the unsteady motion of the atmosphere that causes fluctuations in the airflow around an aircraft, leading to an uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe flying experience. It is caused by various environmental factors that disrupt the smooth flow of air.

What is mechanical turbulence and how is it formed?

Mechanical turbulence is formed by obstructions on the Earth's surface, such as mountains or buildings, that protrude from a smooth surface and disrupt the laminar flow of air, creating turbulent flow.

How does thermal turbulence affect an aircraft?

Thermal turbulence is caused by rising pockets of air, which first make contact with the underside of the aircraft causing bumps. It also leads to small pressure and temperature variations, causing the air to flow in different directions and resulting in turbulence.

What is wind shear and how does it impact an aircraft's flight path?

Wind shear is a sudden change in wind direction and/or speed, which can disrupt an aircraft's flight path. It can be vertical or horizontal and often requires the pilot to make corrections to maintain the aircraft's trajectory.

Why is wind shear particularly hazardous near thunderstorms?

Wind shear is especially hazardous near thunderstorms because these weather conditions can cause significant changes in wind direction and speed, including strong updrafts and downdrafts, which can lead to a loss of lift and pose a risk to the aircraft.

How do pilots respond to wind shear to ensure flight safety?

Pilots respond to wind shear by escaping the condition as soon as possible, usually by setting maximum thrust to compensate for any loss of airspeed and adjusting the aircraft's pitch to control speed and maintain a safe flight path.

What is a downburst and how does it differ from a microburst?

A downburst is a phenomenon where an aircraft experiences downdrafts. A microburst is a small-scale downburst, typically less than four kilometers wide and lasting about 10 minutes, while a macroburst is larger and lasts about 20 minutes.

How do downbursts affect an aircraft's altitude and why is this a concern?

Downbursts can push an aircraft down, causing it to lose altitude rapidly. This is a concern, especially when flying near the ground, as it can compromise the aircraft's ability to maintain a safe altitude above obstacles.

What is clear air turbulence (CAT) and how does it differ from other types of turbulence?

Clear air turbulence (CAT) is turbulence that occurs in the absence of visible weather disturbances. It is associated with jet streams and rapid changes in wind speed over short distances. Unlike mechanical or thermal turbulence, CAT can be harder to predict and is often identified through pilot reports.

How do pilots use information from air traffic control and pilot reports to avoid turbulence?

Pilots use information from air traffic control and pilot reports to gauge the presence of turbulence along their route. They may adjust their altitude or flight path based on reports of turbulence from other aircraft to minimize the impact on their flight.