Analysis of Meteorological Conditions for Aircraft Bumpiness on Plateau Air Routes

Aircraft bumpiness is primarily caused by atmospheric turbulence, which is closely related to changes in wind speed, temperature, and topography. This is especially true on plateau air routes, where the significant variations in terrain can cause aircraft to encounter unstable airflows, leading to bumpiness as they traverse these areas. Using reanalysis data, elevation data, and reports from an aircraft in flight, an analysis was conducted on the turbulence event experienced by flight MU5954 from Tengchong to Kunming on April 4, 2024. The results indicate that the area surrounding Tengchong Airport is characterized by significant topographical undulations and unstable air currents. Bumpiness is more likely to occur in jet stream areas. The alternating positive and negative distributions of vertical velocity, divergence, and vorticity in jet stream areas, combined with the convergence of cold and warm airflows, jointly trigger atmospheric turbulence, making it easier for aircraft to experience bumpiness during flight.