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Climate Test: Jets Alter Course to Cut Heat-Trapping Contrails
19 Aug
Summary
- Flights will adjust altitude to reduce heat-trapping contrails.
- The trial targets contrails, which cause up to 35% of aviation's warming.
- AI and weather data guide controllers in adjusting flight paths.
Hundreds of aircraft flying over the North Atlantic are participating in a significant trial to assess the impact of altitude adjustments on reducing heat-trapping contrails. These persistent ice clouds, formed by jet exhaust, account for a substantial portion of aviation's contribution to global warming.
Over two winter periods, British air traffic controllers will direct flights in the Shanwick airspace to modify their trajectories. This collaborative effort, involving research scientists, controllers, and the British government, utilizes artificial intelligence and weather data to identify altitudes where contrail formation is less likely.
Scientists from Imperial College London and Cambridge University will analyze satellite imagery to evaluate the trial's effectiveness. This initiative aims to mitigate the estimated 1-2 percent of all man-made global warming attributed to contrails, presenting a promising near-term climate opportunity for the aviation sector.
