As concerns over climate change continue to mount, several industries are striving to reduce their carbon footprint. Among these, the aviation industry is making concerted efforts to minimize its environmental impact. This is being achieved through the development of new materials for lighter airplanes and the exploration of alternative fuels.

However, it’s not just the carbon emissions from aircraft that pose a threat to the environment. Contrails, the thin clouds that form behind jet aircraft, have been found to significantly contribute to climate change by trapping heat. Surprisingly, these ‘sky tracks’ make up more than half of aviation’s total climate impact.

In an effort to better understand and eventually mitigate this issue, Fangqun Yu, a researcher at the University at Albany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, has been delving into the process of contrail formation. Yu’s research is particularly focused on the role of soot and volatile particles.

Using flight simulation data, Yu and his team made a significant discovery. They found that volatile particles play a crucial role in the number of ice particles in a contrail, even at medium levels of soot emissions. This finding underscores the complexity of contrail formation and the considerable impact of soot and volatile particles.

Yu is currently working in collaboration with GE Research to further explore this phenomenon. The team is studying the effects of clean aviation fuels and new engine technologies on contrail formation. This research could potentially lead to the development of methods to mitigate the climate impact of contrails.

The findings from this research highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the contrail formation process, particularly the role of volatile particles and soot emissions. It also draws attention to the far-reaching impacts of aviation on climate change.

Fangqun Yu’s ongoing research aims to understand the complex interactions between particles and clouds that affect climate change. His focus is now firmly on the impact of aviation fuels and engine technologies on contrail formation. This work is an integral part of the wider effort to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, and potentially, slow the progression of climate change.

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