Contrails

Contrails, also known as condensation trails, refer to the visible cloud-like lines that materialize behind aircrafts in flight. They are formed when the hot gases from an aircraft’s engine unite with the cold, damp air in the higher atmosphere. The water vapor present in the exhaust fumes solidifies into microscopic ice particles that freeze together, forming a visible cloud. The appearance of a contrail can range from white to slightly gray depending on the ice particles’ density and size. Contrails serve as a visual representation of the aircraft’s exhaust and its effect on the atmospheric conditions at higher altitudes.