Forecasting Aircraft Condensation Trails

Abstract

Aircraft condensation trails (contrails) are caused by aircraft aerodynamics or engine exhaust in the proper atmospheric conditions. Engine- exhaust trails are the most common and are discussed in this report. Jet aircraft contrail-formation graphs facilitate yes-or-no forecasts for any season with forecasts of pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. Contrail probability curves give condensation trail probabilities with forecast pressure and temperature. Engine power setting does not affect contrail formation, but does affect intensity. The contrail-formation graph for propeller aircraft is similar to the jet graph.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA111876

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Aircrafts
  • Combustion
  • Condensation Trails
  • Critical Temperature
  • Exhaust Gases
  • Heat Energy
  • Humidity
  • Jet Aircraft
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Propellers
  • Reliability
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Transition Temperature
  • Water Vapor

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Technology.