全球越变暖，飞机越晚点

路透社引用《气候变化》杂志上发表的一篇研究论文称，未来几十年，全球变暖造成的气温上升和热浪，可能导致全球三分之一的航班滞留。其中纽约拉瓜迪亚机场和迪拜国际机场因跑道较短和灼热的高温等原因，将受到最大的影响。

高温可能迫使航班减少载客量，或限制货物或燃料数量，以保证安全起飞。为什么？研究人员表示，气温越高，飞机越难产生升力。

研究称，到2100年，全球平均气温可能升高5.5华氏度（3摄氏度），而到2080年之前，机场的日平均最高气温可能上升7至14度。研究人员预测，气温升高要求10%至30%的满载飞机必须减轻负重才能安全起飞。

这不止对个人出行是坏消息，还会对航空业产生严重影响：研究人员认为，高温会降低航空公司的利润率，原因之一是航空公司将不得不减少售票。另外，航班延误和取消还会影响到其他经济部门。

今年6月，由于“极端高温”不适宜飞机航行，导致菲尼克斯数十架航班被取消，之后便有了这项最新研究。(财富中文网） 

译者：刘进龙/汪皓

According to a study published in the journal Climate Change, as cited by Reuters, rising temperatures and heat waves due to global warming may ground up to a third of planes across the world in the coming decades. New York's LaGuardia and Dubai International Airport will be some of the airports affected the most, namely due to short runways and scorching heat, respectively.

The heat may cause airlines to cut the number of passengers on an aircraft, or limit the amount of cargo or fuel in order to take off safely. Why? The warmer the air, the harder it is for the airplane to create lift, according to the researchers.

While average worldwide temperatures may climb 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit (3 Celsius) by 2100, according to researchers, the annual maximum daily temperatures at airports could increase by 7 to 14 degrees by 2080. The study's authors predict that this rise in temperature will require between 10% and 30% of fully loaded planes to shed some weight in order to take off.

While this is bad news for your travel plans, it could also greatly impact the airline business: Researchers determined the heat could lead to thinner profit margins, as airlines won't be able to sell as many seats, among other things. What's more, the delays and cancellations could also impact other sectors of the economy.

The new research comes after dozens of flights were canceled in Phoenix in June, as the "extreme heat" made it too hot for planes to fly.