http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/images/hornetsb.jpg
This picture shows a military aircraft breaking the sound barrier and creating a condensation cloud.
Does anyone know why the clouds are formed?
Cool Condensation Clouds Caused By Jets
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Parrakarry
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If I had to guess, I'd say that once you break the barrier, any moisture on the jet can't keep up anymore and is flung backwards instantly. Of course, that's just a completely random guess. I'm probably totally wrong.
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Ace Mercury
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What I think is that those contrails are a result of supercool water vapour in the upper atmosphere. The super-cooled water solidifies when a seed (i.e. the jet) passes through the vapour, and the resulting trail is made primarily of small ice crystals suspended in the air, flung backwards by the extreme speed of the airplane.
It's ironic that those 'cool' contrails contribute to global warming, as the cloud buildup traps heat that would otherwise irradiate out into space.
It's ironic that those 'cool' contrails contribute to global warming, as the cloud buildup traps heat that would otherwise irradiate out into space.