condensation trail
Airplane's sky line
A condensation trail is the white streak left in the sky by aircraft flying at high altitude.
Hot exhaust meets cold air, creating ice crystals that form a visible line.
Usually shortened to contrail: The sky was crisscrossed with condensation trails from passing jets.
Second atmospheric layer up
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- temperature inversionWarm layer over cold
- air pressureAtmospheric weight per area
weather · climate · wind shear · turbulence · ice crystals · supersaturation · water vapor · cirrus
Unbroken series
- ribbonSlender ornamental strip
- lineContinuous mark or queue
- plumeOrnamental feather or rising column
- whiteAbsence of pigment
parallel · crisscross · fading · persistent · spreading · skywriting · pattern · overhead
Solid water formations
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
- exhaustUse up entirely
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- freezingExtremely cold
saturation · droplets · crystallization · moisture · combustion · particles · soot · aerosols
Aircraft condensation streak
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- airlinerLarge commercial passenger plane
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
- jetForced fluid stream
exhaust · engine · high-altitude · plume · wake · turbofan · fuselage · wingtip
Ecological consequence of conditions
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- cloud coverVisible sky obstruction
- albedoSurface reflection coefficient
greenhouse effect · flight tracking · carbon footprint · sustainability · regulation
stratosphere
Second atmospheric layer up
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- temperature inversionWarm layer over cold
air pressure · weather · climate · wind shear · turbulence · ice crystals · supersaturation · water vapor · cirrus · persistence
streak
Unbroken series
white · parallel · crisscross · fading · persistent · spreading · skywriting · pattern · overhead · horizon
ice crystals
Solid water formations
- water vaporH₂O in gaseous state
- exhaustUse up entirely
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
freezing · saturation · droplets · crystallization · moisture · combustion · particles · soot · aerosols · sublimation
contrail
Aircraft condensation streak
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- airlinerLarge commercial passenger plane
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
jet · exhaust · engine · high-altitude · plume · wake · turbofan · fuselage · wingtip · vortex
climate impact
Ecological consequence of conditions
- cirrus cloudsHigh, thin ice formations
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- cloud coverVisible sky obstruction
albedo · greenhouse effect · flight tracking · carbon footprint · sustainability · regulation
condensation, trail, condense, condensed, condenser, condensing, trails, trailed, trailing