Articles | Volume 18, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-6393-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-6393-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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07 May 2018
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 07 May 2018
| 07 May 2018
Contrails and their impact on shortwave radiation and photovoltaic power production – a regional model study
Simon Gruber
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Simon Unterstrasser
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) – Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234 Wessling, Germany
Jan Bechtold
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) – Institut für Flughafenwesen und Luftverkehr, 51147 Cologne, Germany
Heike Vogel
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Martin Jung
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) – Institut für Flughafenwesen und Luftverkehr, 51147 Cologne, Germany
Henry Pak
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) – Institut für Flughafenwesen und Luftverkehr, 51147 Cologne, Germany
Bernhard Vogel
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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Dennis Hillenbrand and Simon Unterstrasser
J. Env. Com. Air Transp. Sys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/jecats-2026-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/jecats-2026-16, 2026
Preprint under review for JECATS
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We study contrail formation behind future fuel cell-based aircraft fueled by hydrogen. Simulations show that, under certain conditions, small droplets can form via a process not occurring in current plumes. This can increase ice crystal numbers in contrails, boosting their climate impact. The effect is strongest in cold air and for high plume mixing rates with air. We suggest to decrease the mixing rate and exhaust humidity by technical design to reduce the climate impact of such aircraft.
Simon Braun, Magdalena Pühl, Andreas Marsing, Daniel Sauer, Gregor Neumann, Elena de la Torre Castro, Valerian Hahn, Michael Lichtenstern, Paul Stock, Christopher Heckl, Dennis Hillenbrand, Anke Roiger, Christiane Voigt, Simon Unterstraßer, Arne Vasenden, Roberta Vasenden, Jean Cammas, Florian Thorey, Catherine Mackay, Charles Renard, and Tina Jurkat-Witschas
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2887, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-2887, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AMT).
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In this work, we share the results of first in-flight emission and contrail measurements behind a fuel cell exhaust emulator, with the goal of quantifying the contrail properties for this new aviation propulsion concept. An artificial dilution tracer system was used to assess plume dilution and derive emission indices. At ambient temperatures close to the homogeneous freezing threshold, a strong temperature-dependence of the number of contrail ice crystals, due to droplet freezing, was observed.
Hiram Meza-Landero, Julia Bruckert, Ronny Petrik, Pascal Simon, Elena Mikheeva, Heike Vogel, Volker Matthias, Johannes Bieser, and Martin Otto Paul Ramacher
Geosci. Model Dev., 19, 6587–6626, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6587-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6587-2026, 2026
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To understand how persistent hazardous industrial chemicals travel through the air and are deposited back on Earth's surface, we created a new computer model that combines meteorology and chemistry in clouds and clean air. Using the most recent global emissions data, this model represents the trajectory and changes of these chemicals, matching patterns in many areas and overlooking others. The work seeks to improve global monitoring and modeling of hazardous chemicals.
Lisa Janina Muth, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Bernhard Vogel, Heike Vogel, and Corinna Hoose
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 8505–8528, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8505-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-8505-2026, 2026
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Wildfire plume injection height is key for atmospheric impact but hard to model. This study simulates the 2019/2020 Australian wildfires, testing fire-atmosphere feedbacks. Heat release increases plume rise; moisture has minor effects. Aerosol-radiation interaction lowers injection height initially, then lofts it. Only the combined simulation matches observed upper troposphere aerosol layers, especially during peak fire intensity.
Hannes Bruder, Robin N. Thor, Malte Niklaß, Katrin Dahlmann, Roland Eichinger, Florian Linke, Volker Grewe, Sigrun Matthes, and Simon Unterstrasser
Geosci. Model Dev., 19, 3551–3567, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-3551-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-3551-2026, 2026
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We develop an easy-to-use tool to estimate the per-flight climate effect of CO2 and non-CO2 emissions, based only on aircraft size as well as origin and destination airports. The implemented model results from a comparison of Multiple and Symbolic Regression approaches and exhibits a mean relative error of 21 % with respect to climate response model results. The simplified method is designed for climate footprint assessment and covers jet-powered passenger aircraft with over 20 seats.
Josef Zink, Cornelius Weiß-Rehm, Simon Unterstrasser, and Ulrike Burkhardt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1088, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1088, 2026
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The study introduces a novel parameterization for the number of contrail ice crystals formed on ambient aerosols entrained into the exhaust plume behind aircraft burning hydrogen. This parameterization can be integrated into large-scale models to assess the radiative impacts of contrails originating from a fleet of aircraft with hydrogen combustion.
Vanessa Santos Gabriel, Luca Bugliaro, Mara Montag, Sabrina Ries, Ziming Wang, Kai Widmaier, Matteo Arico, Simon Unterstrasser, Johanna Mayer, Deniz Menekay, Andreas Marsing, Elena de la Torre Castro, Liam Megill, Monika Scheibe, and Christiane Voigt
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 2397–2412, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-2397-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-2397-2026, 2026
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We provide observations of the geostationary Meteosat satellite with contrails labeled by three people complemented with detailed cloud information. Contrails influence climate but are hard to identify in satellite imagery. With this study, we support contrail detection development and evaluation, stress the subjectivity of human labeling and reveal which meteorological conditions highlight or hide contrails. This dataset contributes to a better understanding of aviation’s climate impact.
Josef Zink and Simon Unterstrasser
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 3145–3165, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3145-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3145-2026, 2026
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The climate impact of aviation-induced contrail cirrus clouds is strongly influenced by the number of ice crystals that form in the wake of an aircraft under certain conditions. In this study, we investigate how engine-related aspects influence the number of ice crystals formed for hydrogen combustion. We derive suitable (scaling) relations that can be integrated into large-scale models used to estimate the climate impact of contrail cirrus clouds.
Josef Zink, Simon Unterstrasser, and Ulrike Burkhardt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 3125–3143, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3125-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3125-2026, 2026
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The climate impact of aviation-induced contrail cirrus is strongly influenced by the number of ice crystals that form in an aircraft's exhaust plume. In this study, we systematically investigate the key microphysical processes of contrail formation for hydrogen combustion. A large simulation data set provides the basis for a data-driven parameterization of ice crystal number that can be integrated into large-scale models.
Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Andreas Baer, Sascha Bierbauer, Julia Bruckert, Dominik Brunner, Jochen Förstner, Arash Hamzehloo, Valentin Hanft, Corina Keller, Martina Klose, Pankaj Kumar, Patrick Ludwig, Enrico Metzner, Lisa Muth, Andreas Pauling, Nikolas Porz, Maryam Ramezani Ziarani, Thomas Reddmann, Luca Reißig, Roland Ruhnke, Khompat Satitkovitchai, Axel Seifert, Miriam Sinnhuber, Michael Steiner, Stefan Versick, Heike Vogel, Michael Weimer, Sven Werchner, and Corinna Hoose
Geosci. Model Dev., 19, 1645–1681, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-1645-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-1645-2026, 2026
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This paper presents recent advances in ICON-ART, a modeling system that simulates atmospheric composition – such as gases and particles – and their interactions with weather and climate. By integrating updated chemistry, emissions, and aerosol processes, ICON-ART enables detailed, scale-spanning simulations. It supports both scientific research and operational forecasts, contributing to improved air quality, weather and climate predictions.
Hengheng Zhang, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Heike Vogel, Frank Wagner, Thomas Leisner, Jochen Förstner, and Harald Saathoff
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5980, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5980, 2026
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We studied several major dust storms that traveled from the Sahara to Europe using ground-based light measurements, sunlight sensors, particle counters, and a modern weather and dust model. We reveal when the dust arrived, how it moved and mixed in the air, and why each event behaved differently. Our results help improve forecasts of dust episodes that influence air quality, visibility, and solar energy across Europe.
Gregor Neumann, Andreas Marsing, Theresa Harlass, Daniel Sauer, Simon Braun, Magdalena Pühl, Christopher Heckl, Paul Stock, Elena De La Torre Castro, Valerian Hahn, Anke Roiger, Christiane Voigt, Simon Unterstraßer, Jean Cammas, Charles Renard, Roberta Vasenden, Arnold Vasenden, and Tina Jurkat-Witschas
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 6795–6816, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6795-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6795-2025, 2025
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This study presents the first successful in-flight emission characterization of a turboprop engine using a fully autonomous airborne measurement platform, offering new insights into the atmospheric impacts of regional aviation. By equipping the high-altitude Grob G 520 Egrett with a suite of custom and modified commercial instruments, we demonstrate precise, high-resolution measurements of aerosol particles, trace gases, and contrail ice in the engine exhaust plume at cruise altitudes.
Lisa Janina Muth, Sascha Bierbauer, Corinna Hoose, Bernhard Vogel, Heike Vogel, and Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 16027–16040, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16027-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16027-2025, 2025
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In our study, we explore how intense wildfires create thunderstorm-like clouds that can affect weather and climate globally. Using simulations with high resolution, we found that fire heat and moisture help form these clouds, lifting particles high into the atmosphere. This process is crucial for understanding how fires affect the environment. Despite some differences from observational data, our findings match well over time, showing the importance of fire-induced heat in cloud formation.
Annemarie Lottermoser and Simon Unterstrasser
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 7903–7924, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7903-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7903-2025, 2025
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Contrail cirrus significantly contributes to aviation's overall climate impact. As hydrogen combustion and fuel cell use are emerging technologies for aircraft propulsion, we simulated individual contrails from hydrogen propulsion during the first 6 min after exhaust emission, termed the vortex phase. The ice crystal loss during that stage is crucial, as the number of ice crystals has a large impact on the further evolution of contrails into contrail cirrus and their radiative forcing.
Andreas Bier, Simon Unterstrasser, Josef Zink, Dennis Hillenbrand, Tina Jurkat-Witschas, and Annemarie Lottermoser
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 2319–2344, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2319-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2319-2024, 2024
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Using hydrogen as aviation fuel affects contrails' climate impact. We study contrail formation behind aircraft with H2 combustion. Due to the absence of soot emissions, contrail ice crystals are assumed to form only on ambient particles mixed into the plume. The ice crystal number, which strongly varies with temperature and aerosol number density, is decreased by more than 80 %–90 % compared to kerosene contrails. However H2 contrails can form at lower altitudes due to higher H2O emissions.
Axel Seifert, Vanessa Bachmann, Florian Filipitsch, Jochen Förstner, Christian M. Grams, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Julian Quinting, Anika Rohde, Heike Vogel, Annette Wagner, and Bernhard Vogel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 6409–6430, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6409-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-6409-2023, 2023
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We investigate how mineral dust can lead to the formation of cirrus clouds. Dusty cirrus clouds lead to a reduction in solar radiation at the surface and, hence, a reduced photovoltaic power generation. Current weather prediction systems are not able to predict this interaction between mineral dust and cirrus clouds. We have developed a new physical description of the formation of dusty cirrus clouds. Overall we can show a considerable improvement in the forecast quality of clouds and radiation.
Natalia E. Chubarova, Heike Vogel, Elizaveta E. Androsova, Alexander A. Kirsanov, Olga B. Popovicheva, Bernhard Vogel, and Gdaliy S. Rivin
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 10443–10466, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10443-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10443-2022, 2022
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Effects of urban aerosol pollution in Moscow were analyzed using the COSMO-ART chemical transport model and intensive measurement campaigns. We show that urban aerosol comprises about 15–20% of columnar aerosol content, consisting mainly of fine aerosol mode. The black carbon (BC) fraction is about 5 %, depending on particle dispersion intensity (IPD). The BC fraction low value explains weak absorbing properties of the Moscow atmosphere. IPD also defines the daily cycle of urban aerosol species.
Michael A. Olesik, Jakub Banaśkiewicz, Piotr Bartman, Manuel Baumgartner, Simon Unterstrasser, and Sylwester Arabas
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 3879–3899, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-3879-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-3879-2022, 2022
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In systems such as atmospheric clouds, droplets undergo growth through condensation of vapor. The broadness of the resultant size spectrum of droplets influences precipitation likelihood and the radiative properties of clouds. One of the inherent limitations of simulations of the problem is the so-called numerical diffusion causing overestimation of the spectrum width, hence the term numerical broadening. In the paper, we take a closer look at one of the algorithms used in this context: MPDATA.
Julia Bruckert, Gholam Ali Hoshyaripour, Ákos Horváth, Lukas O. Muser, Fred J. Prata, Corinna Hoose, and Bernhard Vogel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 3535–3552, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3535-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3535-2022, 2022
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Volcanic emissions endanger aviation and public health and also influence weather and climate. Forecasting the volcanic-plume dispersion is therefore a critical yet sophisticated task. Here, we show that explicit treatment of volcanic-plume dynamics and eruption source parameters significantly improves volcanic-plume dispersion forecasts. We further demonstrate the lofting of the SO2 due to a heating of volcanic particles by sunlight with major implications for volcanic aerosol research.
Andreas Bier, Simon Unterstrasser, and Xavier Vancassel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 22, 823–845, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-823-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-823-2022, 2022
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We investigate contrail formation in an aircraft plume with a particle-based multi-trajectory 0D model. Due to the high plume heterogeneity, contrail ice crystals form first near the plume edge and then in the plume centre. The number of ice crystals varies strongly with ambient conditions and soot properties near the contrail formation threshold. Our results imply that the multi-trajectory approach does not necessarily lead to improved scientific results compared to a single mean trajectory.
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Short summary
A numerical model also used for operational weather forecast was applied to investigate the impact of contrails and contrail cirrus on the radiative fluxes at the earth's surface. Accounting for contrails produced by aircraft enables the model to simulate high clouds that are otherwise missing. In a case study, we find that the effect of these extra clouds is to reduce the incoming shortwave radiation at the surface as well as the production of photovoltaic power by up to 10 %.
A numerical model also used for operational weather forecast was applied to investigate the...
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