Articles | Volume 24, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-2045-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-24-2045-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Feb 2024
Research article |
| 16 Feb 2024
| 16 Feb 2024
Jet aircraft lubrication oil droplets as contrail ice-forming particles
Joel Ponsonby
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
Leon King
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Benjamin J. Murray
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Marc E. J. Stettler
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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Cited
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A review of hydrogen aircraft propulsion systems: recent advances and environmental perspectives A. Leitão et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151489
- Contrail formation: generalised theory and a mitigation proposition for fuel-cell-propelled aircraft D. Hillenbrand & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.1017/aer.2026.10185
- Substantial aircraft contrail formation at low soot emission levels C. Voigt et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10286-0
- Reduced contrail radiative effect for fleets with low soot and water vapour emissions M. Rubin-Zuzic et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100353
- Ubiquity of Aviation Ultrafine Particles and Lubrication Oil Compounds Near Zurich Airport S. Tinorua et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c18458
- Contrail formation for aircraft with hydrogen combustion – Part 2: Engine-related aspects J. Zink & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3145-2026
- Towards intermediate complexity modelling of contrail formation: the new dynamical framework RadMod A. Lottermoser & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.1017/aer.2024.130
- An updated microphysical model for particle activation in contrails: the role of volatile plume particles J. Ponsonby et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-18617-2025
- Revisiting Contrail Ice Formation: Impact of Primary Soot Particle Sizes and Contribution of Volatile Particles F. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04340
- High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft A. Lottermoser & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7903-2025
- Characterization of Ground-Based Particle Emissions from an Airbus A350-900 Operating on Conventional and Sustainable Fuels as Part of the ECLIF3 Campaign P. Williams et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c17052
- Impact of forecast stability on navigational contrail avoidance T. Dean et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ae1da5
- Fuel sulfur content can modulate contrail ice crystal numbers R. Dischl et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02951-5
- Contrail formation for aircraft with hydrogen combustion – Part 1: A systematic microphysical investigation J. Zink et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3125-2026
- Targeted use of paraffinic kerosene: Potentials and implications G. Quante et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2024.100279
- Emission and Formation of Aircraft Engine Oil Ultrafine Particles Z. Decker et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00184
- In-flight emission measurements with an autonomous payload behind a turboprop aircraft G. Neumann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6795-2025
- Experimental characterization of the electrostatic charge of aircraft engine emissions using conventional and sustainable fuels F. Lidstone-Lane et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2025.2596908
- Ice-nucleating particles active below −24 °C in a Finnish boreal forest and their relationship to bioaerosols F. Vogel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11737-2024
- Factors limiting contrail detection in satellite imagery O. Driver et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1115-2025
20 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A review of hydrogen aircraft propulsion systems: recent advances and environmental perspectives A. Leitão et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151489
- Contrail formation: generalised theory and a mitigation proposition for fuel-cell-propelled aircraft D. Hillenbrand & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.1017/aer.2026.10185
- Substantial aircraft contrail formation at low soot emission levels C. Voigt et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10286-0
- Reduced contrail radiative effect for fleets with low soot and water vapour emissions M. Rubin-Zuzic et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2025.100353
- Ubiquity of Aviation Ultrafine Particles and Lubrication Oil Compounds Near Zurich Airport S. Tinorua et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c18458
- Contrail formation for aircraft with hydrogen combustion – Part 2: Engine-related aspects J. Zink & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3145-2026
- Towards intermediate complexity modelling of contrail formation: the new dynamical framework RadMod A. Lottermoser & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.1017/aer.2024.130
- An updated microphysical model for particle activation in contrails: the role of volatile plume particles J. Ponsonby et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-18617-2025
- Revisiting Contrail Ice Formation: Impact of Primary Soot Particle Sizes and Contribution of Volatile Particles F. Yu et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04340
- High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft A. Lottermoser & S. Unterstrasser https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-7903-2025
- Characterization of Ground-Based Particle Emissions from an Airbus A350-900 Operating on Conventional and Sustainable Fuels as Part of the ECLIF3 Campaign P. Williams et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c17052
- Impact of forecast stability on navigational contrail avoidance T. Dean et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ae1da5
- Fuel sulfur content can modulate contrail ice crystal numbers R. Dischl et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02951-5
- Contrail formation for aircraft with hydrogen combustion – Part 1: A systematic microphysical investigation J. Zink et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3125-2026
- Targeted use of paraffinic kerosene: Potentials and implications G. Quante et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2024.100279
- Emission and Formation of Aircraft Engine Oil Ultrafine Particles Z. Decker et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestair.4c00184
- In-flight emission measurements with an autonomous payload behind a turboprop aircraft G. Neumann et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-6795-2025
- Experimental characterization of the electrostatic charge of aircraft engine emissions using conventional and sustainable fuels F. Lidstone-Lane et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2025.2596908
- Ice-nucleating particles active below −24 °C in a Finnish boreal forest and their relationship to bioaerosols F. Vogel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-11737-2024
- Factors limiting contrail detection in satellite imagery O. Driver et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1115-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 26 Jul 2026
Short summary
Aerosol emissions from aircraft engines contribute to the formation of contrails, which have a climate impact as important as that of aviation’s CO2 emissions. For the first time, we experimentally investigate the freezing behaviour of water droplets formed on jet lubrication oil aerosol. We show that they can activate to form water droplets and discuss their potential impact on contrail formation. Our study has implications for contrails produced by future aircraft engine and fuel technologies.
Aerosol emissions from aircraft engines contribute to the formation of contrails, which have a...
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