Downbursts: Invisible danger for aircraft

Climate change is not only taking place on the ground — but also in the air. In Australia, scientists are now warning of a barely visible but potentially fatal threat to air traffic: so-called downbursts. These sudden, vertical air flows usually occur in conjunction with thunderstorms — and they are becoming more frequent, more violent and more difficult to predict as a result of global warming. For pilots, they can be a nightmare — especially during takeoff or landing.

An airplane just before landing. Credit: Jetlinerimages/Getty Images

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