I work in New Jersey, near Philadelphia. I noticed as jets were leaving the airport they were leaving contrails. Usually the trails seem to disappear, but today they were growing larger and actually becoming clouds. Could they actually have an affect on local weather?
2007-03-13 01:27:18 · 5 answers · asked by twjones1029 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
This is a very good question. Here is the scientific answer. They indeed do have an affect on the weather albeit a small effect. While having a negligible effect on the outgoing longwave infrared radiation, they reflect a fraction of the incoming shortwave solar radiation. When they spread out and cover much of the local sky this can result in a lowering of the daytime temperature. These contrails form when there is high humidity at cloud level or flight level and with the very cold ambient temperatures present, the frost point is easily met and ice crystals form in the exhaust plumes of jet engines. Perhaps over the entire history of jet aircraft these contrails may have even had a small impact on the climate of the planet.
2007-03-13 03:26:05 · answer #1 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and a pretty big effect on temps
Durning the shutdown of airspace durning 9/11, it was found that temps were plus 1.1 degrees C warmer than the 30 year mean diurnal temps
They did the study comparing the days before 9/11 and the days after the shut down was complete and found the data to be similar, the 3 days that didnt have planes were found to be much warmer.
2007-03-13 11:42:27 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes! Contrails are considered to be a cloud. They help to keep shortwave radiation from entering the atmosphere, thus keeping the heat out, during the day. At night, they trap longwave radiation from the earth, keeping the heat in. So, flying at night may actually help increase global warming while flying during the day may help counteract it.
This change in temperature may help change local weather just as any temperature change would.
2007-03-14 01:13:06 · answer #3 · answered by monarenee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they say when 911 happened and all jets were grounded the weather changed for the better , i think they do change the weather some what , hope this helps
2007-03-13 08:37:16 · answer #4 · answered by jim m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not much at all
2007-03-13 08:29:39 · answer #5 · answered by q6656303 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋