Beyond Carbon: Understanding the Role of Contrails in Aviation’s Climate Impact
Presentation Type
Short presentation 10-15 minutes
In Person or Zoom Presentation
Virtual via Zoom
Zoom Link
https://erau.zoom.us/j/91449731378
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
School of Graduate Studies
Student Year and Major
PhD in Aviation Candidate
Presentation Description/Abstract
Contrails, the condensation trails produced when jet engine exhaust encounters cold, humid air, are among aviation’s most significant non-CO₂ climate impacts. Depending on meteorological conditions, they may persist for hours and spread into cirrus clouds that trap infrared radiation otherwise destined for space. This short-lived but potent effect may account for up to 35% of aviation’s total climate impact.
This presentation will first outline the science of contrail formation and persistence, then explain why they matter for aviation’s broader climate footprint. Their effects vary greatly with weather, altitude, and season, making them difficult to model, predict, and manage.
Past research established contrails as a driver of radiative forcing, beginning with observational studies and early climate models. Current research is advancing through high-resolution modeling, satellite detection, and operational trials. Potential mitigation strategies include rerouting to avoid ice-supersaturated regions, as well as the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which may generate fewer soot particles and thus reduce contrail formation. These options hold promise but raise questions about efficiency, safety, and cost.
Looking forward, future work must expand beyond science into operational and policy integration. The European Union has begun incorporating non-CO₂ effects into climate policy, but global regulatory pathways remain limited. Progress will require interdisciplinary collaboration to refine models, quantify uncertainty, and develop operational guidelines to achieve industry net-zero goals.
Corrine Girard, Ph.D. candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will frame contrails as both a scientific challenge and a policy-relevant opportunity, inviting participants to think beyond carbon when addressing aviation’s climate future.
Keywords
Contrails, Flight Operations, non-CO2 emissions, sustainability policy
Beyond Carbon: Understanding the Role of Contrails in Aviation’s Climate Impact
Contrails, the condensation trails produced when jet engine exhaust encounters cold, humid air, are among aviation’s most significant non-CO₂ climate impacts. Depending on meteorological conditions, they may persist for hours and spread into cirrus clouds that trap infrared radiation otherwise destined for space. This short-lived but potent effect may account for up to 35% of aviation’s total climate impact.
This presentation will first outline the science of contrail formation and persistence, then explain why they matter for aviation’s broader climate footprint. Their effects vary greatly with weather, altitude, and season, making them difficult to model, predict, and manage.
Past research established contrails as a driver of radiative forcing, beginning with observational studies and early climate models. Current research is advancing through high-resolution modeling, satellite detection, and operational trials. Potential mitigation strategies include rerouting to avoid ice-supersaturated regions, as well as the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which may generate fewer soot particles and thus reduce contrail formation. These options hold promise but raise questions about efficiency, safety, and cost.
Looking forward, future work must expand beyond science into operational and policy integration. The European Union has begun incorporating non-CO₂ effects into climate policy, but global regulatory pathways remain limited. Progress will require interdisciplinary collaboration to refine models, quantify uncertainty, and develop operational guidelines to achieve industry net-zero goals.
Corrine Girard, Ph.D. candidate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, will frame contrails as both a scientific challenge and a policy-relevant opportunity, inviting participants to think beyond carbon when addressing aviation’s climate future.