What is a "vortex wake" caused by?

A vortex wake is primarily caused by the turbulence generated by an aircraft during takeoff and landing. As an aircraft moves through the air, especially during these phases of flight, its wings generate lift, which creates rotating air currents behind the aircraft known as vortices. These vortices can persist in the atmosphere for some time and pose a potential hazard to following aircraft, particularly smaller planes, as they can experience turbulence when passing through these wake disturbances.

This phenomenon is most notably pronounced behind large aircraft, where the strength of the wake vortices is significant due to the larger size and weight of the aircraft. Understanding vortex wake is crucial for pilots as it influences aircraft separation standards and flight safety protocols, particularly near busy airports.