Final answer:
Terrain factors like coastal mountain ranges and isolated volcanic peaks can contribute to the occurrence of clear air turbulence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Terrain factors can indeed be one of the causes of clear air turbulence (CAT). Clear air turbulence refers to the occurrence of turbulent air pockets in the absence of any visible clouds or weather disturbances. The presence of geographic features such as coastal mountain ranges and isolated volcanic peaks in the middle of an ocean can contribute to the generation of CAT.
When air flows over long distances of water before encountering land, it becomes stable. However, as the air encounters landforms like mountains or islands, it experiences changes in wind patterns and flow, leading to the formation of turbulence. Therefore, the terrain features play a role in causing CAT.