Climate change is increasing in-flight air turbulence: bad news for nervous flyers. But Dr Paul Williams has developed an algorithm to predict turbulence up to 18 hours ahead, resulting in smoother flights for billions of passengers and helping to cut CO2 emissions too. He’s recently been shortlisted for a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Impact award for the research. In this video made by NERC to celebrate the finalists, Paul explains his research and the positive impact it’s had for passengers, crew, the aviation industry and the planet.
Paul Williams is Professor of Atmospheric Science in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, specialising in geophysical fluid dynamics, climate change, and numerical modelling. He also won a University of Reading Impact and Engagement Award 2018 in the Influence category for his aviation turbulence research.