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Investigating the Climate Impact of Contrails

Contrails, those elongated, cloud-like formations created by aircraft at high altitudes, are a familiar sight in the skies over Virginia and elsewhere. While some of these condensation trails vanish quickly, others can linger for extended periods, evolving into cirrus clouds, which raise important questions about their environmental repercussions.

Scientists are actively exploring how these contrails influence atmospheric heat retention. A noteworthy collaboration between NASA Langley and GE Aerospace is underway to examine the phenomenon further. Utilizing advanced LIDAR technology, which stands for light detection and ranging, researchers have employed a powerful laser on a research aircraft to capture detailed cross-sectional images of contrails produced by a GE plane. This innovative approach allows them to observe structural elements of contrails that are often invisible from the ground.

The LIDAR system provides a two-dimensional view that measures water vapor concentration, enabling researchers to identify regions in the atmosphere that are more moisture-laden. By analyzing these images, scientists are gaining insights into the thickness of contrails and ascertaining the atmospheric conditions that lead to the most significant contrail formation.

Rich Moore, a research scientist and principal investigator of the project, expressed the complexity of contrail formation, stating, “We like to think of these contrails as just two circles of ice, and it’s a lot more complicated than that. For the first time, we’re able to sort of peel back that veil and see some of the underlying complexity.”

According to Cassi Miller, a senior engineer at GE’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) program, contrails are bright white and can reflect sunlight, which generally contributes to cooling the atmosphere. However, their impact can shift significantly under different conditions. “When contrails form or persist into the night, they begin trapping heat,” she explained. The surface underneath, whether it be land or water, also plays a role in how contrails behave, providing additional variables for researchers to consider.

Miller noted a gap in public awareness regarding the climate impact of contrails. “A lot of people look up in the sky, and some days you see contrails, some days you do not. It’s kind of hit or miss with weather, but most people don’t think about their climate impact,” she said, highlighting a growing consensus among industry and atmospheric scientists about the potential warming effects of contrails. The ongoing research aims to clarify how contrails compare to traditional carbon dioxide emissions in terms of their climate impact.

Moore emphasized that the data gathered will help in identifying optimal flying conditions for aircraft, thus aiding in the development of flight paths that minimize contrail formation. This research is also poised to contribute to advancements in more sustainable aviation technology.

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are growing, and Moore remarked, “We’re very interested and concerned about fuel burn and aviation’s carbon dioxide emissions, which we know impact climate. In addition to that, we’re also starting to become much more concerned about contrails.” He further underscored the significance of recognizing that the warming effect of contrails and aviation-induced cirrus clouds may be comparable to the cumulative impact of a century of aviation activity since the inception of jet travel.

Moore reiterated the importance of not only improving fuel efficiency in aircraft but also taking measures to mitigate contrail formation as part of broader climate efforts. “We need to be concerned about, at some point, reducing contrails,” he concluded.

2024 The Virginian-Pilot. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Citation: Using LIDAR technology researchers study the impact of contrails on climate (2024, December 2) retrieved 2 December 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-12-lidar-technology-impact-contrails-climate.html

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