Contrail - Wikipedia
WEBContrails (/ ˈ k ɒ n t r eɪ l z /; short for "condensation trails") or vapor trails are line-shaped clouds produced by aircraft engine exhaust or changes in air pressure, typically at aircraft cruising altitudes several miles above the Earth's surface. They are composed primarily of water, in the form of ice crystals.
Contrails — What are they and how do they form? | Space
WEBAug 27, 2023 · Condensation trails, or contrails, are long, thin clouds that can form behind airplanes at cruising altitude. They are created by jet engines.
Chemtrails Versus Contrails - ThoughtCo
WEBJul 4, 2019 · Contrails are condensation trails left in the sky when the water in aircraft engine exhaust condenses to form artificial clouds. Contrails may last a matter or seconds or persist several hours. Contrails dissipate more slowly when a lot of water vapor is present in the atmosphere.
Why do jets leave a white trail in the sky? | Scientific American
WEBNov 19, 2001 · The Sciences. Jets leave white trails, or contrails, in their wakes for the same reason you can sometimes see your breath. The hot, humid exhaust from jet engines mixes with the atmosphere, which...
Contrail | Definition & Facts | Britannica
WEBApr 19, 2024 · Contrail, streamer of cloud sometimes observed behind an airplane flying in clear cold humid air. It forms upon condensation of water vapor produced by the combustion of fuel in airplane engines. When the ambient relative humidity is high, the resulting ice-crystal plume may last several hours.
Nature curiosity: What are contrails and how do they form?
WEBFeb 9, 2024 · Contrails are trails of condensation from jet engines that are created when planes pass overhead, according to the National Weather Service. The word contrail is a shortened form of condensation trail.
What Is Known (and Not Known) About Contrails | Britannica
WEBContrail is short for “condensation trail.”. A condensation trail is a streamer of cloud sometimes observed behind an airplane flying in clear, cold, humid air. Here’s what is known (and not known) about these man-made clouds.
Why do aircraft leave contrails in the sky? - BBC
WEBAug 23, 2022 · In a nutshell, contrails – a contraction of "condensation trails" – are the line-shaped ice particle clouds formed in the wake of aircraft. They can be anything from a 100m (330ft) to several...
Contrails | Earthdata
WEBContrails are human-induced clouds that usually form at very high altitudes (usually above 8 km - about 26,000 ft) where the air is extremely cold (less than -40ºC). Because of this, contrails form not when an airplane is taking off or landing, but while it is at cruise altitude.
CONTRAIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
WEBnoun. a visible condensation of water droplets or ice crystals from the atmosphere, occurring in the wake of an aircraft, rocket, or missile under certain conditions. contrail. / ˈkɒntreɪl / noun. another name for vapour trail. Discover More. Word History and Origins. Origin of contrail 1. First recorded in 1940–45; con (densation) trail.
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