An international team of environmental scientists has found that changing the routes of commercial flights could reduce the concentration of contrails in the atmosphere. This will help slow down global warming. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (ERIS).
Previous research has shown that airplanes make a disproportionate contribution to climate change. In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, jet aircraft can also create trails of ice, water vapor and particulate matter.
When several aircraft fly consecutively on the same route, their wakes merge into cirrus clouds. These clouds act like a blanket, keeping heat close to the ground. Scientists say this impact accounts for approximately 35% of the airline industry’s total contribution to global warming.
Just 2% to 10% of flights account for nearly 80% of contrails, according to the analysis. Based on a simulation of 85,000 high-altitude flights, rerouting 14% of flights would reduce the number of contrails by 73% and increase transportation costs by only 0.08%.
Previously February 2024 It turned out to be hottest on record