What is "wake turbulence"?

Wake turbulence refers specifically to the turbulent air that is generated behind an aircraft as it moves through the atmosphere. This phenomenon occurs due to the lifting currents created by the wings of the aircraft, particularly in larger aircraft, where the pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the wings results in the formation of rotating vortices. These vortices can pose a serious hazard to following aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing phases of flight, as they can cause unexpected and severe changes in altitude or control difficulties.

The other options do not accurately describe wake turbulence. For instance, turbulence caused by thunderstorms is related to different meteorological phenomena, while wind shear is a sudden change in wind speed or direction and is not limited to the wake of an aircraft. Ground turbulence during taxiing, while it may occur, is not specific to the wake turbulence generated by aircraft in flight. Understanding wake turbulence is crucial for pilots to maintain safe separation distance from other aircraft to avoid complications during flight operations.