clear-air turbulence

noun

ˈklir-ˈer-

: sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent jarring or buffeting of aircraft

Examples of clear-air turbulence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At high altitudes, planes can run into clear-air turbulence, which is dangerously invisible to the eye and to radars, often striking with no warning. —

Koh Ewe, TIME, 2 July 2024 The two primary kinds of turbulence are clear-air turbulence and convective turbulence, the turbulence that occurs in, say, thunderstorms or in big clouds, big lines of clouds. —

Abc News, ABC News, 22 May 2024 Williams’ analysis predicted that clear-air turbulence would increase significantly across the world in the coming decades. —

Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024 Baumgardner added that clear-air turbulence is still rare. —

Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 20 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for clear-air turbulence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear-air turbulence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of clear-air turbulence was in 1955

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clear-air turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear-air%20turbulence. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

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