What is turbulence and why do we get it just from flying through clouds?

Answer 1

Good question! Turbulence is the irregular motion of air; uneven currents of air. Clouds have a different density. It is like driving your car on a bumpy road. Air has different motions/currents in different spots, much like pot holes in a road. Generally speaking, flying thru turbulence is safe. It can feel scary, but it is generally regarded as safe. Keep your seat belt buckled!

Answer 2

Turbulence is basically a stream of air in irregular motion that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by a number of different conditions. The most common encounter is flying in the vicinity of thunderstorm. In fact, a flight through a patch of cloud will often jostle the airplane. Flying over mountainous area with a prevailing wind is another major cause of air turbulence. Other causes come from flying near to jet streams at high altitude, in a frontal system or where temperature changes in any air mass in the sky.

The severity of air turbulence can be basically described as light, medium, severe or extreme. Flying through a medium turbulence is no more dangerous than a traveling along a gravel road in a bus or coach. Severe turbulence can be very uncomfortable but it would not cause the aircraft to break up.

Answer 3

Turbulence is basically a stream of air in irregular motion that normally cannot be seen and often occurs unexpectedly. It can be created by a number of different conditions. The most common encounter is flying in the vicinity of thunderstorm. In fact, a flight through a patch of cloud will often jostle the airplane. Flying over mountainous area with a prevailing wind is another major cause of air turbulence. Other causes come from flying near to jet streams at high altitude, in a frontal system or where temperature changes in any air mass in the sky.

Answer 4

As Turbulences we know every stream not moving the same direction as the majority of the material around it.
This is everywhere human buildings, like planes, subs or skyscrapers fly/swim/grow. This causes the "mainstream" (I'm German, you see?) to take other ways - along these buildings. This is why we have to create our transportations as aero-dynamic as possible - to avoid turbulences, little whirls of air, for example. These ones are blamed for the "air resistance" everything has.
And beyond every cloud there are strong up- and fallwinds - reasonned e.g. by temperature differences etc. Within the cloud they do not stop - clouds are only water steam - they go on, sometimes become even stronger (noticed in thunderstorms, twisters and hurricanes) - and these vertical streamings we know as "turbulences" when flying.
Interesting, that something "soft" like air can cause humans to avoid meals with peas in the air...

Answer 5

actually you do not get turbulence from just flying through
clouds,you can also get turbulence just flying though air
with no clouds.

turbulence is like a pocket of air,that is negative,and all
the rest would be positive.

positive air holds the plane up,and negative air would
let the plane drop.

clouds are a mixture of positive and negative air,
so yes you would obviously experience turbulence
in clouds or storms.

but you can also experience turbulence when they are
no clouds around.

Answer 6

turbulence is caused by unstable air at altitude and sometimes by wind blowing over terrain at lower altitudes. Column's of air rising and falling due to temperature differential from various surfaces on the earth will create turbulence as well. At altitude weather phenomenon is usually the catalyst for turbulence, frontal passage , jet stream winds, all add to the mix where the air becomes unstable. Watch a cumulus nimbus cloud boil in the summertime, with in that cloud are serious up and down drafts which create turbulence. Pressure changes do accrue with areas of pressure differential clashing. The clouds offer a unique visual presentation of the phenomenon.

try this link for more information

http://www.casa.gov.au/airsafe/trip/turbulen.htm

Answer 7

You get more turbulence when passing through clouds because of the density of the cloud and the fact that it contains rain or water particles. It is also cooler and it tends to push the plane down. One of the most dangerous clouds for planes is what is called a lenticular cloud and looks like a flat lens, they have very unstable air which causes wind shear as well.

Answer 8

Turbulence is really not understood very well even by scientists. It involves uneven heating of the atmosphere, which happens more around clouds that tend to block sunlight. But it also comes from vortices formed both from air movements and from the passage of other aircraft through the air. Vortices are formed at the wingtips of all modern aircraft. Those little winglets you see on the newer planes are designed to minimize it, but it's still there. Hope that helps.

Answer 9

Certain types of clouds contain ice crystals. If you fly through enough, then you feel turbulence. Turbulence refers to any jostling or shaking while in an airlplane and flying at crusing altitude

Answer 10

Turbulence is the event that occurs when you have the uneven heating of air. Warm air rises, and is replaced by cold air. It is not an even process. because of this stirring, we experience "air pockets" or turbulent air.
The reason you seem to experience it more in clouds, is because of the nature of cloud building. which is the condensation of water vapor, (clouds) as a result of the two different temperatures of air colliding. You are correct in thinking some cloud formations make for a rougher ride in a plane.