Developing a Research Agenda on Contrails and Their Climate Impacts

By: Space Studies Board and Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Committee on the Research Agenda for Reducing the Climate Impact of Aviation-Induced Cloudiness and Persistent Contrails from Commercial Aviation

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Synopsis: Contrails are visible lines in the sky behind aircraft that occur when warm jet engine exhaust meets the colder surrounding atmosphere, forming small ice crystals. Most contrails dissipate within about 10 minutes, but they can last for hours under certain conditions. Persistent contrails can contribute to atmospheric warming and are estimated to have a climate impact on par with carbon dioxide emissions from aviation. In early 2024, NASA requested that the National Academies develop a national research agenda to better understand, quantify, and develop technical and operational solutions to reduce the global climate impact of aviation-induced cloudiness and persistent contrails. This report presents priorities for a national contrails research strategy and provides a vision for how this research could eventually support operational contrails mitigation. This research would support the global economic competitiveness of the U.S. civil aviation industry in the context of emerging international aviation regulations.