A 2017 Columbia University studypointed out unexplored risks climate change on aviation “and”significant potential for cascading effects, economic or otherwise“. The phenomenon is therefore not recent, but it may accelerate in the coming years. The prevalence of heat waves, with record temperatures this summer and as recently as October, leaves little room for optimism. Temperatures above 40°C in France and over 50°C in other parts of the world are changing the way we live, but also how we travel. Direct impact on people’s transport. Overheating of the thermometer will really have a significant effect on the flight of the airplanes.
The devices are very heavy by design. For example, a Boeing 777-300ER operating long-haul flights for KLM to Singapore or even Buenos Aires can have a maximum take-off weight of 351 tons. However, as Newton’s apple taught us, gravity wants bodies (in the physical sense of the word) to stay on the ground. “To overcome gravity, they have to create lift, meaning the atmosphere will push the plane up.”Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, explains to CNN. “The rise depends on many factors, but one of the most important is air temperature. And as the air heats up, it expands, so the number of molecules available to push the plane up decreases.”
An increase in temperature therefore has measurable effects on the aircraft’s lift. The latter decreases by an average of 1% for every 3°C rise, according to Paul Williams, who conducted research at ten Greek airports. However, as the expertise provided by the IPCC reminds, heat waves will intensify. “Extreme heat makes it more difficult for airplanes to fly, and in some really extreme conditions it can become completely impossible.”emphasizes Paul Williams.
The problem is particularly significant at high-altitude airports (where the air is thinner) and short runways (which leave less room for aircraft to accelerate). According to a British researcher, the average aircraft will need almost 2 kilometers of runway when it’s 20°C, compared to 2.5 kilometers up to 40°C.
Wind not strong enough?
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Another element is added: the wind. “The opposite wind is beneficial for flights. And there is evidence that climate change is causing what is called a general rest. That’s why the winds seem to be slowing down.”, continues Paul Williams. According to the latest report from the Copernicus space program, the European observatory responsible for collecting data on the state of the planet, parts of Europe, including Ireland and the (notoriously windy) United Kingdom, had the lowest average in 2021. wind speed has been recorded since 1979.
Because wind is so variable from year to year, it’s hard to know whether it’s a one-time phenomenon or a long-term trend fueled by global warming, said Freya Wamborg, the report’s author. from The cross . However, IPCC scientists in one of their reports refer to a “A high probability that average wind speeds will decrease in the Mediterranean regions and a medium probability that they will decrease in northern Europe by mid-century.” if global warming exceeded 2°C. Directly affecting aircraft flight during the hottest hours of the day?
For its part, the Center for Basic and Applied Research (Cerfacs), a specialist in digital modeling and simulation, which has worked with Airbus to measure the impact of global warming on aircraft flight, alludes to another fact: air humidity. the air “We know from the literature that humidity has a noticeable effect on thrust. The thrust appears to decrease in proportion to the level of moisture in the air.reminds the report.
Obviously, the propulsion of the engine, which allows the plane to move forward but not take off, can be impaired in high humidity. Even if the Cerfacs report does not allow to definitively confirm the effect on the flight of the aircraft, air humidity may become a significant factor in the future. Because the latter increases with increasing temperature. And the effects of global warming are exacerbated when humidity levels explode.
Planes landed because of the heat
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Heat waves have already damaged the commercial aviation industry. planes simply jumped due to heat waves. In 2017, 43 flights were canceled within hours at the Phoenix-Sky Harbor airport in the USA. At the time, the thermometer was about 50°C, too hot for planes to leave the runway. A year later, during a heat wave, several planes departing from London City Airport had to leave passengers on the ground because the plane was too heavy to take off in temperatures below 35°C.
In the middle of summer, will the airlines be forced to reduce the number of passengers departing in good conditions? The Columbia University study cited above found that as temperatures rise, planes will need to be lighter if they want to take off during the hottest hours of the day, especially at airports, on shorter runways. Thus, this work predicted that by 2050, an aircraft such as the Boeing 737 could experience 50% to 200% weight restrictions during the summer months. As the study shows, some airports are more vulnerable than others, such as New York’s La Guardia, Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, Denver International Airport and Phoenix-Sky Harbor.
No more early morning and late evening departures, a tactic already used in hot spots like the Middle East
For Paul Williams of the University of Reading, several solutions are possible to avoid this phenomenon. “One can schedule departures very early and after the peak of the day, with earlier morning and late evening departures, a tactic that is already being used in hot regions like the Middle East.” Also, there is a need to review the design of airplanes, which should be lighter and more aerodynamic. Manufacturers such as Airbus have already made announcements that go in this direction. Others already offer a “hot and high” option on some of their aircraft that must take off from high altitude airports in intense heat. Finally, airports can increase the length of runways for flights, which will require major infrastructure works.
But for a scientist, we should not panic. Even if these solutions cannot be applied in certain cases, dropping passengers remains rare. However, the phenomenon should not be ignored because it has led, like global warming, to worsen.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.