Aviation effects on already-existing cirrus clouds

Matthias Tesche; Peggy Achtert; Paul Glantz; Kevin Noone

doi:10.1038/ncomms12016

Aviation effects on already-existing cirrus clouds

Matthias Tesche, Peggy Achtert, Paul Glantz, Kevin Noone

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Abstract

Determining the effects of the formation of contrails within natural cirrus clouds has proven to be challenging. Quantifying any such effects is necessary if we are to properly account for the influence of aviation on climate. Here we quantify the effect of aircraft on the optical thickness of already-existing cirrus clouds by matching actual aircraft flight tracks to satellite lidar measurements. We show that there is a systematic, statistically significant increase in normalized cirrus cloud optical thickness inside mid-latitude flight tracks compared with adjacent areas immediately outside the tracks.

Original language	English
Article number	12016
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12016
Publication status	Published - 21 Jun 2016

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ncomms12016Final published version, 436 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Aviation effects on already-existing cirrus clouds",

abstract = "Determining the effects of the formation of contrails within natural cirrus clouds has proven to be challenging. Quantifying any such effects is necessary if we are to properly account for the influence of aviation on climate. Here we quantify the effect of aircraft on the optical thickness of already-existing cirrus clouds by matching actual aircraft flight tracks to satellite lidar measurements. We show that there is a systematic, statistically significant increase in normalized cirrus cloud optical thickness inside mid-latitude flight tracks compared with adjacent areas immediately outside the tracks.",

author = "Matthias Tesche and Peggy Achtert and Paul Glantz and Kevin Noone",

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AU - Achtert, Peggy

AU - Glantz, Paul

AU - Noone, Kevin

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PY - 2016/6/21

Y1 - 2016/6/21

N2 - Determining the effects of the formation of contrails within natural cirrus clouds has proven to be challenging. Quantifying any such effects is necessary if we are to properly account for the influence of aviation on climate. Here we quantify the effect of aircraft on the optical thickness of already-existing cirrus clouds by matching actual aircraft flight tracks to satellite lidar measurements. We show that there is a systematic, statistically significant increase in normalized cirrus cloud optical thickness inside mid-latitude flight tracks compared with adjacent areas immediately outside the tracks.

AB - Determining the effects of the formation of contrails within natural cirrus clouds has proven to be challenging. Quantifying any such effects is necessary if we are to properly account for the influence of aviation on climate. Here we quantify the effect of aircraft on the optical thickness of already-existing cirrus clouds by matching actual aircraft flight tracks to satellite lidar measurements. We show that there is a systematic, statistically significant increase in normalized cirrus cloud optical thickness inside mid-latitude flight tracks compared with adjacent areas immediately outside the tracks.

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DO - 10.1038/ncomms12016

M3 - Article

VL - 7

JO - Nature Communications

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Aviation effects on already-existing cirrus clouds

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