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Flights Across The Atlantic May Take Longer, Cost More Thanks To Climate Change

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- It may soon take you longer and cost you more to fly across the Atlantic, thanks to climate change.

"We've known for a long time that aviation makes a significant contribution to climate change, but what we've only recently recognized, and it's only really been in the last few years, is that climate change is gonna have some implications for aviation," Paul Williams, an Atmospheric Scientist at the University of Reading in England said.

Those implications can include more inflight turbulence, a harder time taking off, or in the case of the study he just completed - longer flight times.  It's because of the jet stream, which moves from west to east.

Williams says the jet stream, "can reach speeds of 200 mph at flight cruising level, and we have reason to believe the jet stream is speeding up because of climate change."

The jet stream is driven by the temperature difference between the equator and the pole. Climate change is increasing that difference.

Airlines are looking at an additional 2,000 hours airborne annually, adding up to $20 million in additional jet fuel, and an increase in CO2 emissions of 70 million kilograms, or the equivalent output of 7000 British homes.

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