About: Turbulence

Plane Spotters India | About: Turbulence

Turbulence can be defined as small-scale, short-term, random and frequent changes to the velocity of air. In other words, when there are rapid changes to either the air’s speed or its direction of m
ovement or both, conditions are said to be turbulent. (Wagtendonk, 2003) When an aircraft flys through this disturbed air, it will experience turbulence.

Types of turbulence:

There are four fundamental causes of turbulence:

-Thermal
-Mechanical
-Shear
-Aerodynamic (Wake turbulence)

Thermal:
When the surface is sufficiently warm, vertical currents of air form. As an aircraft flys through these, the occupants will experience turbulent conditions.

Mechanical:
This is caused by interference of surface features on the horizontal flow of air. This could include mountains, Tall buildings, Trees, etc.
The amount of turbulence depends on speed of wind, the size of the obstruction, the shape of obstruction and atmospheric conditions.
An aircraft will experience turbulence as it flys over and behind this object.

Shear:
When the direction or speed of wind changes dramatically within a short horizontal or vertical distance, an aircraft will experience turbulence when it flys through this boundary.

Aerodynamic:
Turbulence caused by an aircraft as it flys through the air. Also known as wake turbulence. If another aircraft were to fly behind this, it would experience turbulence.




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