Jets and Cirrus

Our sky can put on quite a show. These show CONTRAILS (Condensation Trails) and clouds. In fact, a CONTRAIL is nothing more than a manmade cloud that formed with the assistance of nature. Jets exhaust a trail of water vapor that condenses in the cold air aloft. If the air is too dry the vapor does not become visible in the form of a cloud. If there is enough moisture in the air (even though the sky may be clear) it will condense forming CONTRAILS. Here we see a mixture of cirrus clouds and CONTRAILS. They change shape with time as they move through different weather regimes overhead such as changes in temperature and wind direction and speed.

CONTRAILs with cirrus fibratus, cirrocumulus, and fallstreaks

Contrails with cirrus fibratus

Cirrus