Researchers have developed a new technique for detecting clear-air turbulence.

Researchers from the Walker Institute at the University of Reading have developed a new technique for forecasting turbulence, promising smoother flights, fewer air passenger injuries and a decrease in the amount of damage sustained by planes.

Turbulence that affects planes is classified as ‘clear-air turbulence’. It is unrelated to severe weather, such as thunderstorms, and is hard for pilots to avoid.

Dr Paul Williams, co-author of the research report, commented on the technique, which is based on a mathematical model of atmospheric waves: “Our new method for predicting clear-air turbulence significantly outperforms the approach used currently, which dates back to the 1960s.”

Atmospheric waves are generated around jet streams of fast-moving air at high altitudes. The new technique predicts the energy associated with these waves in order to identify where turbulence may occur.

Most recently, turbulence was one possible cause of the emergency landing of Qantas flight QF72, from Singapore to Perth on 7 October. According to the airline, a sudden change in altitude occurred when the plane climbed 300 feet before the nose “dropped momentarily”. Fourteen of the 262 passengers onboard were seriously injured, while 30 more were required to attend hospital, and a further 30 required first aid treatment for minor conditions.

Qantas is currently assisting the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to determine the exact cause of the incident.

The research regarding clear-air turbulence is published in the October edition of the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.