What is wake turbulence?

Wake turbulence refers to the disturbances in the atmosphere that are caused by the passage of an aircraft. When an aircraft flies, it generates lift, and as a result, creates vortices or swirling air patterns behind it. These vortices can lead to significant turbulence, especially for smaller aircraft following the same flight path. Understanding wake turbulence is crucial for air traffic control, as it requires proper separation between aircraft to ensure safety during takeoff, landing, and in-flight operations.

This turbulence is particularly intense behind larger aircraft, as their wings produce stronger vortices. It can pose a risk to smaller aircraft that might encounter these disturbances, which is why pilots and air traffic controllers need to be vigilant about the spacing and sequencing of aircraft departures and arrivals.

The other concepts provided in the choices do not accurately describe wake turbulence. They refer to unrelated topics within aviation—icing involves the build-up of ice on an aircraft, external weather phenomena pertain to environmental conditions, and methods of navigation involve techniques and tools used to determine an aircraft's position and course, rather than the atmospheric effects caused by flying.