Wind Shear: An Important Atmospheric Hazard

Wind shear is a change in wind direction and speed over a short distance. It can take place either vertically or horizontally. It is associated with high-temperature density gradients or inversions. Wind shears create air pockets and eddies by having two layers of winds with different speeds. The mechanism causes one layer to flow over the other, leading to atmospheric turbulence ( Klotz & Jiang, 2017) . Eddies can be large, leading to the creation of descending air, a problem that might cause an aircraft to drop from an altitude. Wind shear can either be horizontal or vertical. Vertical wind shear is a change of horizontal wind speed or direction with height. It causes the generation of eddies that are often found in the upper part of the troposphere near the jet streams. Horizontal wind shear is viewed as the change in the horizontal direction of the wind and speed with the horizontal distance ( Klotz & Jiang, 2017) . It creates eddies in the form of microbursts that leads to severe downdraft, a mechanism that induces the generation of destructive winds at the ground. The diagram below demonstrates how wind shear operates. One of the scenarios of specific atmospheric conditions that can lead to the generation of turbulence and wind shear is the rising air from a mountain ridge in a stable atmosphere. In such a case, the air will be forced upward toward the stratosphere. As the air rises, it comes into contact with the surrounding atmosphere, causing the creation of eddies. The potential visual signs that can warn pilots of potential turbulence in such a scenario are waves-shaped clouds called billows ( Klotz & Jiang, 2017) . They are formed by the whiling motion of eddies when air comes into contact with the surrounding atmosphere. From a personal viewpoint, wind shear is an important atmospheric hazard. While other forms of atmospheric hazards cause accidents in the atmosphere, the wind shears appear in the atmosphere without showing warning signs ( Klotz & Jiang, 2017) . For instance, on a clear atmospheric day, an aircraft can still experience serious turbulence that can cause harm to the passengers or even damage the aircraft. I have never experienced anything that resulted in a serious injury on board an aircraft. However, on several occasions, while traveling on an airplane, I have noticed it being distracted by wind shear. I noticed this by experiencing the falling sensation of the aircraft as a result of it losing altitude. The problem is associated with the descending air, which causes the creation of eddies. From my case, I deduce that wind shear is a major concern for most aviators due to its inability to show signs in some instances. 

Reference 

Klotz, B. W., & Jiang, H. (2017). Examination of surface wind asymmetries in tropical cyclones. Part I: General structure and wind shear impacts.  Monthly Weather Review ,  145 (10), 3989-4009. https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-17-0019.1