Clouds of the Day - Wednesday, December 22, 2021
/CONTRAIL
CONTRAIL is short for CONdensation TRAIL. It is the condensation of moisture in the exhaust of jet engines. The first photo below also shows a small patch of cirrocumulus clouds, possibly created from a previous CONTRAIL. The second photo is a closer view of the CONTRAIL and the aircraft. It takes an eagle eye but if you look closely at the second photo you can see the aircraft located ahead of the condensation trail. Condensation occurs a short distance behind the aircraft when the hot gases of the exhaust have cooled to the condensation temperature of the water vapor.
CONTRAIL with cirrocumulus patch
CONTRAIL