IMPERIAL College London and Grantham Institute for Climate Change research suggests that high altitude contrails could have a greater climate impact than the CO2 emissions from aircraft, reports Sydney's Centre for Aviation (CAPA).
So minimising contrails may become a short term priority for improving the sustainability of industry, say climate researchers.
Contrail management has the potential to deliver quick environmental performance gains for the industry, alongside medium and long term measures such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and alternative propulsion technologies, they say.
Modern aircraft create more and longer lasting contrails than older aircraft that operate at lower altitudes.
Researchers say modern aircraft operating over the North Atlantic create more and longer lasting contrails than older aircraft that operate at slightly lower altitudes. While the more efficient modern aircraft emit less CO2 than older models, their climate impact through contrails could be greater.
The study also provides the first evidence that reducing the amount of soot particles emitted from aircraft engines can shorten the lifetime of contrails.
SeaNews Turkey
So minimising contrails may become a short term priority for improving the sustainability of industry, say climate researchers.
Contrail management has the potential to deliver quick environmental performance gains for the industry, alongside medium and long term measures such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and alternative propulsion technologies, they say.
Modern aircraft create more and longer lasting contrails than older aircraft that operate at lower altitudes.
Researchers say modern aircraft operating over the North Atlantic create more and longer lasting contrails than older aircraft that operate at slightly lower altitudes. While the more efficient modern aircraft emit less CO2 than older models, their climate impact through contrails could be greater.
The study also provides the first evidence that reducing the amount of soot particles emitted from aircraft engines can shorten the lifetime of contrails.
SeaNews Turkey
