What is wake turbulence primarily caused by?

Wake turbulence is primarily caused by wingtip vortices, which are rotating air currents that develop at the tips of an aircraft's wings as it generates lift. When an aircraft flies, the high-pressure air beneath the wing flows around the tip to the lower pressure area above the wing, creating a swirling motion. This phenomenon occurs most notably when an aircraft is at a higher angle of attack, such as during takeoff and landing, leading to the formation of these vortices.

Understanding wake turbulence is crucial for pilots, especially when flying in the vicinity of larger aircraft. The vortices can persist in the air for several minutes and can pose a significant risk to following aircraft, particularly smaller ones, as they can encounter sudden and strong aerodynamic disturbances if they fly through these wake currents.

While maximum thrust from engines can contribute to other aerodynamic forces, it is not the primary cause of wake turbulence. Weather conditions may affect how wake turbulence behaves or dissipates, and the propeller slipstream relates more to the effects produced by propeller-driven aircraft rather than the characteristic vortices formed predominantly from wings.