Turbulence intensity reported at a specific altitude is described as light within which altitude range?

• A. 0 to 3,000 feet
• B. 3,000 to 5,000 feet
• C. 5,500 to 7,200 feet
• D. 8,000 to 10,000 feet

Answer: (C)

Turbulence intensity describes how strong the air motion disturbances are, and pilots report that intensity at the altitude where the aircraft is flying. Light turbulence is the mildest category, causing only small, brief changes in altitude or attitude and feeling like gentle bumps rather than jarring motions.

The altitude band around five thousand five hundred to seven thousand two hundred feet is the range where light turbulence is typically described. At lower altitudes, mechanical turbulence from terrain and obstacles tends to dominate, making conditions feel more inconsistent or stronger; at higher altitudes, other factors such as jet-stream–related shear can bring stronger turbulence. So this mid-range band is the most representative for a light-turbulence description, which is why it’s the best choice.