How Climate Change Is Changing Travel

Climate change is not a distant concern or a fictitious bogeyman—it’s a sad reality that is here to stay. You can see it everywhere, as it affects every aspect of your life—including how you travel.

Extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels have caused irreversible damage to the travel industry, and the impact only seems to grow. From airports to highways and everything in between—climate change is reshaping how you explore the world. Here’s how.

High heat changes the way planes work

Extremely hot temperatures can affect aeroplanes and air travel in ways you might not notice.

As a rule, flying is much easier when the air is denser in cooler temperatures. Extreme heat lowers density, which means that aeroplanes must go through the runway much faster to generate enough lift to take off. As such, airports without much space could be affected, and many aeroplanes won’t be able to take off.

This difficulty is also why hot weather sometimes requires aeroplanes to be lighter. This results in shedding unnecessary weight, which could mean your luggage—or even you—being asked to leave the plane before takeoff.

Climate change increases turbulence

But hot weather doesn’t only make flying more difficult—it can also make it a lot more dangerous.

Climate change has also changed the way wind works. Jet streams—that is, a band of strong winds that flow from west to east in the upper atmosphere—have become much more unpredictable. Heat causes dramatic and sudden changes in wind speed and direction, which leads to turbulence.

These shifts, called wind shear, have increased steadily and are impossible to anticipate while on air, leading to strong turbulence that may even lead to injury and more danger.

Extreme cold delays flights

Although you may be familiar with how extreme cold might be a hazard for flying, the damage caused by subzero temperatures is much more insidious than you might think.

Aeroplanes must undergo weather certifications to ensure they can handle extreme temperatures. However, the cold can still change how the aeroplane’s metals and plastics work and impact its structural integrity. Likewise, fluids like engine oil can thicken, and this change in viscosity can affect the efficiency while on flight.

But even if everything else works like a charm, ice can still accumulate on the wings and become a problem.

Extreme heat misaligns train tracks

You’d be wrong if you think avoiding air travel will spare you from climate change’s insidious damage. Railroad travelling also suffers the consequences of humanity’s choices.

Under intense heat, railroad tracks can deform and twist, creating a misalignment called sun kinks. Although they have always existed, they have become much more commonplace in recent years, causing countless derailments that can delay travel and, at times, even pose a risk to one’s life.

Other extreme temperatures can also damage wires and different types of equipment needed for the railroad’s correct functioning.

Rising sea levels are imminent

Visiting your favourite beach destinations is much more challenging now than it was ten years ago, and in the near future, it might be near impossible.

Melting glaciers and ice sheets are increasing the sea levels at a steady pace, which is changing the landscape as you know it. These changes are devastating on multiple levels—including damaging coral reefs and increasing the acidification of the oceans—but they can also affect the way you do tourism.

For example, rising sea levels cause beach erosion, degrading them and reducing their quality and size. Flooding events can also disrupt tourism and even damage infrastructure in the area.

Extreme Weather Changes Affect Everything, Not Just Tourism

Although tourism is undoubtedly affected by these frantic, extreme, and unpredictable weather changes, it is merely a tiny dent compared to its impact on your everyday life.

As the climate crisis continues to unfold, it’s crucial to take action—whether through sustainable choices, advocacy, or supporting climate-conscious initiatives. The future of our planet depends on it!