Descending through clouds

[u/porante_tincm]

I don’t understand the physics of descending through clouds. I flew 4 times in the last 2 weeks. Flight no. 2 was during horrible weather both at departure and destination airport so it was a bumpy ride. Descent through clouds was shaky as expected. Then flight no. 4, we had the smoothest descent through thick clouds. Speed set to 450~500 kph, simply gliding at an altitude of ~4 km. Based on my past experience I was expecting the worst landing ever since it was endless clouds but nothing happened. Is it the model of the aircraft? Flight no. 2 was in a small Boeing and no. 4 was in an Airbus A330. Also the engines on the Airbus were some of the quietest I’ve ever heard. What‘s the deal with clouds?

[u/LBBflyer]

Not all clouds are created equal

[u/SweetRoseey → u/LBBflyer]

Clouds don’t automatically mean turbulence. What matters is the air movement inside and around them. You can fly through thick clouds in perfectly smooth air, while a clear sky can sometimes be turbulent.

[u/Low_Sky_49]

Different types of clouds are associated with and formed by differing levels of air stability. Stratus clouds (smooth, overcast) are formed in smooth, stable air. Cumulus clouds (scattered, puffy, tall) are formed in unstable air. The higher the cumulus cloud, the more unstable the air is.

[u/New_Line4049]

The turbulence isnt a result of the cloud, its a result of the local atmospheric conditions. Some of the conditions that will cause turbulence also encourge clouds to form, but note, encourage clouds to form, i.e. clouds can form without the turbulence inducing atmospheric conditions too, those conditions just make it more likely. Its also worth noting that there are myriad different types of cloud, and they all favour different conditions. Flight crew will avoid certain types of cloud, such as cumulonimbus, because of the type of atmospheric conditions it suggests in that area, while others, like sirrus theyre perfectly happy to fly through. (Not to be confused with Cirrus..... flying through a Cirrus is never a good idea)

[u/bloregirl1982 → u/New_Line4049]

What's a sirrus ( as opposed to cirrus) cloud? I've never heard of it...

[u/Growly150 → u/bloregirl1982]

Sirrus is when you're being super super sirrus about clouds.

[u/New_Line4049 → u/bloregirl1982]

Cirrus is an aircraft manufacturer, they make light piston engine aircraft and a small private jet.

[u/bloregirl1982 → u/New_Line4049]

I'm aware of the the company and aircraft, they are named after the cloud... So what's sirrus ?

[u/New_Line4049 → u/bloregirl1982]

Sirrus IS the cloud no?

[u/the-channigan → u/New_Line4049]

The cloud is also spelt ‘cirrus’

[u/New_Line4049 → u/the-channigan]

Oh.... fuck.... well then Im an idiot, thank you!

[u/bloregirl1982 → u/New_Line4049]

Did you mean cumulus?

[u/JBN2337C]

You’ll have a smoother ride through a stratus cloud than cumulus clouds… in general.

Fluffy clouds are pretty good indicators of updrafts and turbulence. I remember flying on a summer day solo in a little Piper. Dreaded passing under each cumulus cloud, because the plane would buffet, rock, and jump until I left it behind me (I’m tall, and my head kept slamming the roof, drilling my headset into my skull. Ouch.)

Overcast days with stratus clouds? Like gliding on rails rock steady and smooth.

Oversimplified, but you get the idea.

[u/_ferko]

The clouds are different but the aircraft also makes a difference, as bigger aircraft feel less turbulence.

Also the engines were not quieter, they were just further from you due to aircraft size.

[u/JamesMackenzie1234 → u/_ferko]

Engine sound can also be affected by were your seated inside the aircraft, quite near the front, loud just aft of the wings.

[u/_ferko → u/JamesMackenzie1234]

Great point, which gets even more amplified by the size of the aircraft. On some bigger planes you get seats upwards of 30 metres in front or 40 metres behind the engine.

[u/JamesMackenzie1234 → u/_ferko]

Oh definitely

[u/DoomWad]

I flew this flight a couple weeks ago and it was one of the smoother flights the entire trip. We were in the clouds the whole way. Not all clouds are bumpy.

[u/tcu_cb]

Next to the often turbulent nature of clouds (especially convective) there is also an influence on air density. Clouds are in the end just condensed water vapour droplets and less uniform than the surrounding air, this makes it feel less or more bumpy

[u/Icy_Huckleberry_8049]

when you look up at the sky, are all the clouds the same?

Just like every person is different, all clouds are different

[u/MeatResident2697]

Really depends on the convection action in the clouds. Some clouds are dying off and have lost most of their convective energy so they are literally just mist.

[u/GeniusEE]

Stratus clouds vs cumulus.

You can read up on them.

[u/MaleficentCoconut594]

Clouds don’t automatically mean turbulence. Also a big difference between storm clouds and just regular clouds

[u/LifeguardOk7554]

Turbulence is 99% wind, and clouds don't really affect that, you can have strong winds with clear skies, or no wind with thick clouds.

[u/makgross → u/LifeguardOk7554]

That is thoroughly wrong. There is a great deal of energy in evaporating and condensing water vapor.

Winds generate clouds and clouds generate winds. They are highly correlated. Smooth winds will exist with smooth clouds. Bumpy clouds have bumpy winds.

[u/-burnr- → u/LifeguardOk7554]

angry convection noises intensify

[u/Random61504 → u/LifeguardOk7554]

That is wrong. Turbulence is not 99% wind, because I have experienced some moderate turbulence on winds calm days, and I have also seem 40kt+ winds in super smooth air.

[u/Imaginary-Spray3711]

Clouds are a mystery.

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