Type of turbulence | Cause |
---|---|
Clear air turbulence | A difference in wind speed/direction over a short distance, without any visual cues of clouds |
Wake turbulence | Formed behind another aircraft |
Thermal turbulence | Rising bubbles of warm air and sinking bubbles of cold air as a result of surface heating |
Frontal turbulence | Wind shifts between different air masses |
Thunderstorm turbulence | Updrafts and downdrafts within a storm |
Mountain wave turbulence | Strong currents formed downwind of a mountain as air flows over |
Mechanical turbulence | Friction from air flowing over man-made obstructions and irregular terrain |
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