noisy aeroplanes

[sarahhhh]

Why do aeroplanes on the flight path coming into land at Heathrow sound louder when the weather is bad?

[delboy3]

I'm no scientist so excuse my hackneyed explanation, but I'm guessing that the bad (i.e. wet) weather is denser and so carries soundwaves more efficiently. It's the same on cold winter mornings for example - you hear distant traffic louder than you would on a warm summer morning.

[Mac attack]

Might the sound waves be bouncing back off the clouds instead of escaping into the atmosphere?

[tubeway]

I live in the Stansted flight path - and the planes fly in lower when it is cloudy - so it is louder

[mibn2cweus]

Sound travels faster and easier in warmer air with humidity having little effect so they must be flying lower or faster in bad weather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound

[Gef]

It has nothing to do with the speed of sound. There are lots of possible factors here to do with sound dissipation and engine idle speed but I am no expert.

However, planes land at the same height and speed whatever the weather.