Turbulent times ahead: Warmer air from increased global CO2 emissions is creating bumpier flights around the world, The Guardian reports, citing new research from the University of Reading. The study found that while the US and north Atlantic had experienced the largest increases in turbulence — with severe turbulence in the North Atlantic going up by 55% since 1979 — other busy flight routes over Europe, the Middle East, and the south Atlantic have also recorded significant increases. The research marks the first evidence of increased turbulence stemming from climate change.

More turbulence = more degradation: The study found that every minute spent fighting through turbulence increases degradation of an aircraft. The US aviation industry alone loses USD 150 mn to USD 500 mn annually from increased turbulence, The Guardian said, citing the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Climate change is affecting air travel in other ways: Faster jet streams — the narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere — in the Atlantic are increasing travel times due to winds slowing down the plane. At the same time, rising temperatures are reducing the weight aircrafts can carry due to the hot air’s lower density which requires the plane to travel faster to take off within the limits of the runway’s length.