Latest news with #turbulence
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy Trial Latest: Court Unexpectedly Cancelled
The Diddy trial hit a pause after a juror reported a medical issue, just one day after jurors saw intense video evidence in court. Bill Belichick's girlfriend may have thrown subtle shade at his ex in a cryptic Instagram caption referencing high-society drama. Plus, a Southwest flight turned turbulent when a woman unleashed chaos mid-air, leading to her arrest once the plane landed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Balloon lands on road after hitting turbulence
Police assisted the crew of a hot air balloon after it landed on a rural road. Officers from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire were on patrol when it came down just over the border in Lincolnshire on Monday evening. The balloon had been flying for an hour before "hitting some turbulence", its owner Gary Davies said on social media. It landed near a field at Sutton St Edmund but no-one was reported injured. Police said the landing prompted a "you can't park there" moment from officers, although they understood the balloon "had no choice in the matter". After checking insurance, they stood by to ensure the crew was safe while the balloon was put away. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Balloon crash with power lines to be investigated Balloonists given green light for new festival In pictures: Northampton Balloon Festival returns Cambridgeshire Police
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Balloon lands on Wisbech road after hitting turbulence
Police assisted the crew of a hot air balloon after it landed on a rural from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire were on patrol when it came down just over the border in Lincolnshire on Monday balloon had been flying for an hour before "hitting some turbulence", its owner Gary Davies said on social landed near a field at Sutton St Edmund but no-one was reported injured. Police said the landing prompted a "you can't park there" moment from officers, although they understood the balloon "had no choice in the matter".After checking insurance, they stood by to ensure the crew was safe while the balloon was put away. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Science
- Washington Post
See where your flights will experience this climate-fueled turbulence
It gets bumpy traveling with a toddler. On a descent into JFK airport, we experienced stomach lurching turbulence. The buckle signs turned on, and I secured my 3-year-old daughter, while maintaining a composed face. I checked in to see how she was feeling as the dining carts rattled against the cabin's hollow plastic walls. 'I like the bouncing!' she exclaimed, and we landed without a hitch. It was such a sunny day too, I remembered thinking as we deplaned. I scrolled and learned that turbulence accounts for a majority of weather-related accidents in the United States. Clear-air turbulence, like we experienced, can happen without warning on a cloudless day, injuring passengers and crew by violently throwing them. So I wondered: Should I add severe turbulence to the list of weather events my daughter will experience as the Earth warms? Short answer, yes. Studies show these events are happening more often now than 40 years ago. And a recent study by Mohamed Foudad, a researcher in turbulence modeling at the University of Reading, identified areas where a hotter atmosphere makes for even rougher skies in the following decades. Check how turbulence would change along your route Select departure Select arrival Turbulence at 2°C warming Likelihood of increased severe turbulence along flight routes. Low High Ascents and descents are not calculated. Why the Southwest will experience more turbulence While at the University of Toulouse, Foudad led a study where he combined 11 climate models to predict where more extreme and dangerous forms of clear-air turbulence would increase. He said, 'by using all these climate models … we have now a high confidence at each degree of warming that we have an increase in this turbulence.' The map above simulates the impact of a 2 degree Celsius (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) increase from preindustrial temperatures which, according to some estimates, could fall before 2055. These severe cases are more than a bump in the sky. These conditions result in sudden changes in altitude and loss of airspeed that are a risk for passengers, crew and the plane. A drop like this could throw a person from their seat or send a phone flying. It is the type of incident that is federally required to be recorded in the U.S. Incidents of severe turbulence are in addition to an increasing trend observed decades ago. Paul D. Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, said 'today there's 55 percent more severe turbulence over the North Atlantic than there was in 1979 and 41 percent more over North America.' At this year's European Geosciences Union conference, Williams predicted that turbulence along the world's busiest routes over the Atlantic Ocean may increase by four times as much over the next few decades. A graphic explaining the clear-air turbulence and how it is created between warmer and colder air currents in the jet stream. Foudad's study found a majority of change in the U.S. appears in the southwest along the subtropical jet stream — a high altitude band of wind that wraps around the globe. Along the edges of this jetstream, two layers of air at different temperatures encounter one another. Extreme weather intensifies temperature differences of these layers, allowing wind speeds to change over short distances. The push and pull of these forces creates turbulence between them. Foudad's study found a majority of change in the U.S. appears in the southwest along the subtropical jet stream — a high altitude band of wind that wraps around the globe. Along the edges of this jetstream, two layers of air at different temperatures encounter one another. Extreme weather intensifies temperature differences of these layers, allowing wind speeds to change over short distances. The push and pull of these forces creates turbulence between them. Foudad's study found a majority of change in the U.S. appears in the southwest along the subtropical jet stream — a high altitude band of wind that wraps around the globe. Along the edges of this jetstream, two layers of air at different temperatures encounter one another. Extreme weather intensifies temperature differences of these layers, allowing wind speeds to change over short distances. The push and pull of these forces creates turbulence between them. Foudad's study found a majority of change in the U.S. appears in the southwest along the subtropical jet stream — a high altitude band of wind that wraps around the globe. Along the edges of this jetstream, two layers of air at different temperatures encounter one another. Extreme weather intensifies temperature differences of these layers, allowing wind speeds to change over short distances. The push and pull of these forces creates turbulence between them. Hotter air moves faster and typically, higher than cold air. As it moves more rapidly, colder air is pulled up to fill in those gaps, causing what's known as 'vertical wind shear.' Aircraft experience these tumbling eddies as turbulence. As climate change strengthens temperatures in the tropics, hotter air is meeting the cooler Northern air in greater contrast. Williams says, 'the temperature drop across the jet stream at cruising altitudes is being made stronger, and that is increasing the wind shear, which in turn is generating more turbulence.' Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Globally, Foudad's research found that northern Africa and central Asia, along the most populated parts of China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, will see large increases of severe turbulence in the atmosphere as a result. This doesn't mean the rest of the United States is off the hook. A 2023 analysis of historic changes in clear-air turbulence found that the largest global increases occurred over the continental U.S. and the North Atlantic Ocean. A 2019 paper determined that as temperatures have risen over the past four decades, vertical wind shear in the Northern Hemisphere has increased, as the temperature difference in the polar jet stream has widened. What's at stake Bullet We will face more uncomfortable and dangerous flights. Clear-air turbulence has increased since the 1970s. Researchers agree that the likelihood of severe turbulence will only increase in a warming world, putting passengers and crew at risk. Bullet Flights could take longer or risk more cancellations. Avoiding turbulent air and stronger headwinds means slower flights, delays, or cancellations from threatening conditions. Bullet Flights could cost more. Every report of severe turbulence requires a safety inspection. This means longer times grounded and more hours monitoring an airline's fleet. More exposure to heavy winds, means more hours of fatigue on aircraft. Beyond sparking an existential panic during your flight, the biggest problem turbulence poses is how it harms the plane you're taking. What may be 20-second increases for individual passengers add more than 120 hours of additional strain over the lifetime of the aircraft. Stress on these jets may shorten their expected lifespan by years. Map of the top three routes impacted by length of journey. Routes with the most change in turbulence Routes with the most change in turbulence Routes with the most change in turbulence Routes with the most change in turbulence Routes with the most change in turbulence ... those under 2.5 hours Route Turbulence Houston, TX (IAH) to Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 36 secs Burbank, CA (BUR) to Houston, TX (IAH) 36 secs Burbank, CA (BUR) to Houston, TX (HOU) 36 secs ... those between 2.5 and 4 hours Route Turbulence Jacksonville, FL (JAX) to Santa Ana, CA (SNA) 59 secs Jacksonville, FL (JAX) to San Diego, CA (SAN) 59 secs Charleston, SC (CHS) to San Diego, CA (SAN) 58 secs ... those more than 4 hours Route Turbulence Atlanta, GA (ATL) to Kahului, HI (OGG) 1:46 min Atlanta, GA (ATL) to Honolulu, HI (HNL) 1:45 min Honolulu, HI (HNL) to Kenner, LA (MSY) 1:35 min 'If there's twice as much turbulence, then there's twice as much fatigue, twice as much wear-and-tear,' Williams said, adding that airlines would have to perform maintenance twice as often because the planes have 'effectively flown twice as many hours in turbulence, even though they've flown the same number of hours in the atmosphere.' No one has yet estimated how much more it would cost to increase maintenance to keep airlines safe. Fatal incidents from turbulence are rare, but not unheard of. The 2023 Singapore Airlines experienced severe turbulence that killed one passenger, while injuring 71 others. What can airlines do about clear-air turbulence? Forecasters already make predictions where clear-air turbulence will impact flights, though it is difficult to track with satellite or radar. When Williams started his career in 1999, he said he spoke with pilots who ignored turbulence forecasts, finding them 'rubbish … always wrong.' But the predictions have improved, Williams said, from 60 percent accuracy to 80 percent today. The airline industry is also trying something else: tracking clear-air turbulence in real time. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) offers a platform called the Turbulence Aware, where participating airlines receive live data of incidents along their routes. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Williams called displaying live turbulence data in the cockpit a 'game changer. It doesn't involve someone picking up a radio and talking to air traffic control, then air traffic control passing it on.' Still, it costs money to reroute a flight, he said, and it adds to the overall journey time, Williams says. Stuart Fox, IATA's director of flight and technical operations, says the data help pilots make informed decisions. 'Safety trumps everything … the information used by the pilots, either before departure or at the flight planning stage, can help the pilots and crew be aware of what to expect.' As turbulence is projected to increase globally by the mid-century, researchers caution that planes being manufactured now should be designed for a more turbulent atmosphere. Meanwhile, air traffic along the U.S. Southwest will only continue to grow, Foudad said. 'It's hard to say that airlines will not be impacted by this extreme weather shifting with global warming.' Given how much turbulence stands to change, it might be hard to avoid at all.
Sustainability Times
10-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Plasma Chaos Finally Cracked': This New Tech Unveils the Hidden Turbulence Threatening the Future of Nuclear Fusion
IN A NUTSHELL 🔬 Japanese scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique using quantum mechanics to analyze plasma turbulence. have developed a groundbreaking technique using quantum mechanics to analyze plasma turbulence. 📊 The new method, called multi-field singular value decomposition , provides clearer insights into the interactions within fusion plasmas. , provides clearer insights into the interactions within fusion plasmas. 🌊 The research has implications beyond plasma physics, potentially impacting fields like weather dynamics and social systems . and . 🔍 By integrating energy and information perspectives, this study opens new avenues for understanding and controlling turbulent phenomena. The world of plasma physics is on the brink of a revolutionary transformation. Scientists in Japan have pioneered a groundbreaking technique to analyze plasma turbulence, offering unprecedented insights into the complex systems that govern our universe. This breakthrough, led by Dr. Go Yatomi and Dr. Motoki Nakata, leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to address longstanding challenges in understanding plasma behavior. By employing multi-field singular value decomposition, researchers can now unravel the intricate web of interactions within fusion plasmas, paving the way for advancements in nuclear reactors and beyond. Understanding Plasma Turbulence Turbulence is a fascinating yet complex phenomenon that occurs in fluids such as air, water, and plasma. It plays a vital role in shaping natural and engineered systems, from weather patterns to ocean currents and even the performance of jet engines. In the realm of plasma physics, turbulence is particularly intricate, involving the simultaneous evolution of multiple interdependent physical fields. These fields interact in ways that are crucial for optimizing the performance of next-generation fusion reactors. Traditionally, scientists have studied plasma turbulence by examining fluctuations in individual quantities like temperature or density. However, this approach often misses the bigger picture, as it fails to capture localized vortex structures and the complex interplay between multiple interacting fields. This limitation has prompted researchers to develop innovative methods to better understand plasma turbulence and its implications for fusion technology. 'Century-Old Puzzle Finally Solved': Mathematicians Crack Code That Can Supercharge the World's Most Powerful Turbines The Role of Information Entropy In a bid to address the challenges of understanding plasma turbulence, the research team introduced the concept of information entropy to their analysis. By applying entropy-based tools from quantum physics, including von Neumann entropy and entanglement entropy, they were able to capture the structural complexity of turbulent fluctuations. These measures revealed a previously overlooked transition in the turbulence state, shedding light on how different turbulence patterns are interconnected. Through the application of multi-field singular value decomposition, the scientists extracted shared spatial patterns across multiple fluctuating fields. This approach allowed them to identify a sudden shift in the collective patterns of vortices, a process that can significantly impact the confinement of heat and particles in a fusion reactor. By simplifying the complexity of turbulent interactions, this method makes the analysis more accessible and informative. 'France Still Ahead': While U.S. Boasts Laser as Powerful as a Million Reactors, Apollon Quietly Breaks Global Energy Records Implications for Fusion Reactors The findings of this study have profound implications for the future of fusion reactors. The newly discovered transition in turbulence reflects a shift in how energy and fluctuations move between patterns. This insight is crucial for improving the confinement of heat and particles within a fusion reactor, ultimately enhancing its efficiency and performance. Unlike traditional methods, the use of information entropy offers a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play. The researchers believe that their approach can be applied beyond plasma physics, with potential applications in a wide range of complex systems. From weather and ocean dynamics to traffic networks and social systems, the principles explored in this study hold promise for understanding and optimizing various phenomena. By integrating energy and information perspectives, this research opens new avenues for exploring the essential dynamics of turbulence and other complex interactions. 'They Morph Like Liquid Metal': Scientists Reveal Mini-Robot Swarm That Shape-Shifts Just Like in Sci-Fi Movies Future Directions in Turbulence Research Building upon their groundbreaking findings, the research team plans to further explore the theoretical correspondence between information entropy in turbulence and principles in quantum information theory. They also intend to test their method on real-world experimental data, expanding its applicability and robustness. By delving deeper into the intricacies of turbulence, scientists aim to unlock new opportunities for technological advancements and scientific understanding. The study's impact extends beyond plasma physics, offering valuable insights into diverse fields that involve complex systems with interacting factors. As researchers continue to refine their methods and expand their applications, the potential for transformative breakthroughs in understanding and controlling turbulent phenomena is immense. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach, the scientific community is poised to make significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of turbulence and its far-reaching implications. The advancements in understanding plasma turbulence highlight the power of interdisciplinary research and the potential for transformative breakthroughs. As scientists continue to explore the intricacies of complex systems, what new discoveries await in the ever-evolving landscape of scientific inquiry? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (29)
