In-flight turbulence can often be scary — or worse — can cause serious injuries.

But improved weather forecasting has helped reduce those incidents. And scientists have tracked areas of frequent turbulence by individual air routes examining the unexpected bumps, and drops in altitude.

Eight of the 10 most turbulent routes are in Asia, and most of those are over Japan.

Another very bumpy ride is between Almaty and Bishkek — Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. And the most turbulent route is between Santiago in Chile and Santa Cruz in Bolivia.

But don’t underestimate the turbulence often experienced on transcontinental flights as planes fly over the Continental Divide above Colorado.