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- ✈️ Climate Change is Making Plane Turbulence Worse
✈️ Climate Change is Making Plane Turbulence Worse
Plus: Germany's offshore wind farm project; Food price increases
Welcome back to ClimateWatch, your go-to source for the latest climate news and information.
We hope your summer is going well! It’s been a very hot last few weeks here in the midwest, so we’ve really enjoyed the cool down over the weekend! Also, it seems like July flew by!
Speaking of flying, this week’s ClimateWatch newsletter begins with an article about how climate change is making air travel more turbulent. In fact, the amount of severe turbulence may double or triple in the coming decades 😳 .
The second story we have for you this week is about Germany’s ground-breaking (or…water-breaking?) offshore wind farm that is projected to power 1.6 million homes by 2029.
Lastly, we’ll leave you with a report that shows how extreme weather events are directly impacting our food prices, at least in the immediate aftermath of the events.
Check back with us next week for more of the latest climate news!
✈️ Climate Change is Making Plane Turbulence Worse
Temperature changes and shifting wind patterns in the upper atmosphere due to climate change are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of severe turbulence for airplanes. Severe turbulence is defined as when the up and down movements of a plane exert more than 1.5g-force on your body - enough to lift you out of your seat if you are not wearing a seat belt. Around 5,000 incidents of severe-or-greater turbulence are occurring each year, out of a total of more than 35 million flights globally. Experts say we can expect a doubling or tripling in the amount of severe turbulence around the world in the next few decades. For every 10 minutes of severe turbulence experienced now, that could increase to 20 or 30 minutes in the future. Since 2009, there have been 207 severe injuries related to turbulence. Since 1981, it is estimated that four deaths have occurred due to turbulence.
🇩🇪 Germany’s Offshore Wind Farm to Power 1.6 Million Homes
Germany is taking a significant stride towards renewable energy by construction one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, the Nordseecluster, in the North Sea. It promises to generate 1.6 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 1.6 million households. The farm will comprise of monopiles, each weighing 1,653 tons and measuring 279 feet in length. The monopile design enhances efficiency, streamlines the installation process, and reduces steel usage. Phase A of the project is set to commence in 2024 and will feature 44 wind turbines. Phase B will consist of 60 additional turbines and is anticipated to be complete by early 2029.
🥚 Extreme Weather Increases Food Prices
A recent report shows that extreme weather events are correlated to specific food price spikes in the immediate aftermath. Researchers say that food price are the second-biggest way that climate change is currently being felt across the globe, second to only extreme heat itself. Unexpected extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and extreme heat have negatively impacted food yields, immediately raising the prices of crops. The spikes in food prices are felt most by low-income people, who spend a more significant portion of their income on food than the average American. Shifting food prices change the value of aid that low-income Americans receive through programs like SNAP, and can add to the unpredictability in finances of poorer families. Two-thirds of Americans say they are very concerned about increasing food costs.
Need to Catch Up?
If you’re new here, or if you missed any of our other newsletters in July, here is a recap:
That’s all for this week! If you enjoyed our newsletter, please share it with your friends!
-Hannah, Eric, Amy, and Nick
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