Convective Turbulence
What is convective turbulence?
Convective turbulence is bumpy air caused by rising and sinking air currents (convection), which occur as the sun heats the ground unevenly and warm air rises while cooler, denser air sinks in to replace it. It can happen even on clear days when the air is too dry to form cumulus clouds—this is called dry convection, or thermals. Think of it as the choppy ride you feel on a hot afternoon flying over fields, pavement, or other surfaces that heat up faster than surrounding areas.
Also known as: thermal turbulence, convective currents, thermals, dry convection
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