Analysis of Meteorological Causes of Aircraft Turbulence in the Southwest Region

Aircraft turbulence is primarily caused by atmospheric turbulence, which is closely related to changes in wind speed, temperature, and topography. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in the southwestern region, where the complex terrain and the significant uplifting effect of the plateau on air currents make aircraft highly susceptible to turbulence. The turbulence event experienced by flight MU5954, operating from Tengchong to Kunming on 4 April 2024, was analyzed using reanalysis data, topography data, satellite data, and aircraft in-flight reports. The results showed that the turbulence occurred near the boundary between the windward and leeward slopes of the mountains, where the air currents were unstable. The alternating positive and negative distributions of vertical velocity, divergence, and vorticity in the upper-level jet stream, combined with the convergence of cold and warm airflows, jointly triggered atmospheric turbulence, making the aircraft susceptible to turbulence during flight.