What type of shear occurs when two winds blow at different speeds in the same direction?

When two winds blow in the same direction but at different speeds, this is referred to as speed shear. This phenomenon is crucial in aviation because it can lead to turbulence, particularly near the boundaries of air masses with differing velocities. As the faster wind moves over the slower wind, it can create disturbances in the airflow, resulting in a turbulent environment. Understanding speed shear is important for pilots and air traffic controllers to safely manage flight operations, particularly during takeoff and landing phases when aircraft are more sensitive to turbulent conditions.

In contrast, direction shear involves winds blowing in different directions, height shear relates to changes in wind speed with altitude, and pressure shear pertains to differences in atmospheric pressure, all of which describe different atmospheric phenomena.