vapor trails
Jet exhaust lines
Vapor trails are the white streaks left in the sky by aircraft at high altitude.
They form when hot, humid exhaust from jet engines meets cold air, causing water vapor to condense into ice crystals.
Also called contrails (condensation trails).
The trails may persist for hours or dissipate quickly depending on atmospheric conditions: We watched vapor trails crisscross the blue sky.
Aircraft exhaust condensation
- jetstreamHigh-altitude wind band
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
aircraft · exhaust · plume · wingtip · overhead · flyover · airspace · aerodynamics
Passing very quickly
- dissipatingScattering and fading out
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- temporaryLimited in duration
transient · impermanent · evanescent · dissolving · dispersing · short-lived · momentary · wispy
Solid water formations
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
- exhaustUse up entirely
- freezingExtremely cold
- saturationState of complete permeation
cirrus · crystallization · moisture · temperature · atmosphere · droplets · expansion · cooling
Transmitted communication
- aerialElevated, or signal-catcher
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
- scriptWritten words for performance
lettering · announcement · spectacle · airshow · pilot · plumes · celebration · visibility
contrails
Aircraft exhaust condensation
- jetstreamHigh-altitude wind band
- flightpathAircraft's designated travel corridor
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
stratosphere · aircraft · exhaust · plume · wingtip · overhead · flyover · airspace · aerodynamics · turbulence
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- dissipatingScattering and fading out
- vanishingCeasing to be visible
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
temporary · transient · impermanent · evanescent · dissolving · dispersing · short-lived · momentary · wispy · drifting
ice crystals
Solid water formations
saturation · cirrus · crystallization · moisture · temperature · atmosphere · droplets · expansion · cooling · sublimation
message
Transmitted communication
- aerialElevated, or signal-catcher
- advertisingPaid promotional communication
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
script · lettering · announcement · spectacle · airshow · pilot · plumes · celebration · visibility · loops
streaks
Long thin marks
tracks · patterns · signature · evidence · remnant · imprint · wake · aftermath · residue · memory
- aviation pollutionaircraft noise, carbon emissions, contrails, emissions, engine emissions
- contrailscontrails
- Cloudscumulus, stratus, cirrus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus
- high cloudscirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus, mare's tail, mare's tails
trail, vapor, evaporate, trails, evaporation, vaporous, vapour, evaporator, vapours