Part 9/12:
Certain flight routes, especially over the equatorial Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, are inherently more prone to turbulence, particularly during monsoon seasons. Changing monsoon patterns, driven by climate change, have led to more frequent and intense atmospheric disturbances.
Air traffic control veteran Gary Hoe explains that:
The meeting point of oceanic currents and wind patterns near the equator creates volatile conditions.
The transition periods of monsoon winds—such as shifting from the northeast to southwest monsoons—are associated with increased turbulence.
Even if other aircraft are flying the same route, turbulence may hit only select flights due to localized atmospheric variations.