Daily Archives: March 23, 2026

Clear-air turbulence, or CAT, is the turbulent movement of air masses in the absence of any visual clues such as clouds. The atmospheric region most susceptible to CAT is at altitudes of around 23,000 to 39,000 feet. This is the region of jet streams — fast-moving, narrow bands of wind high in the atmosphere that blow from west to east.

Wind shear refers to a sudden change in wind speed or direction across a short distance. When an aircraft encounters wind shear, it may experience abrupt vertical or horizontal movements, resulting in unanticipated changes in altitude or velocity. While wind shear is commonly observed in the vertical dimension, it can also manifest horizontally. Continue reading →