Articles | Volume 25, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5911-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5911-2025
Research article
 | 
12 Jun 2025
Research article |  | 12 Jun 2025

Influence of temperature and humidity on contrail formation regions in the general circulation model EMAC: a spring case study

Patrick Peter, Sigrun Matthes, Christine Frömming, Patrick Jöckel, Luca Bugliaro, Andreas Giez, Martina Krämer, and Volker Grewe

Related authors

Updated algorithmic climate change functions (aCCF) V1.0A: Evaluation with the climate-response model AirClim V2.0
Sigrun Matthes, Simone Dietmüller, Katrin Dahlmann, Christine Frömming, Patrick Peter, Hiroshi Yamashita, Volker Grewe, Feijia Yin, and Federica Castino
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-92,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-92, 2023
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Predicting the climate impact of aviation for en-route emissions: the algorithmic climate change function submodel ACCF 1.0 of EMAC 2.53
Feijia Yin, Volker Grewe, Federica Castino, Pratik Rao, Sigrun Matthes, Katrin Dahlmann, Simone Dietmüller, Christine Frömming, Hiroshi Yamashita, Patrick Peter, Emma Klingaman, Keith P. Shine, Benjamin Lührs, and Florian Linke
Geosci. Model Dev., 16, 3313–3334, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-3313-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-3313-2023, 2023
Short summary

Related subject area

Subject: Clouds and Precipitation | Research Activity: Atmospheric Modelling and Data Analysis | Altitude Range: Troposphere | Science Focus: Physics (physical properties and processes)
On the impact of thunder on cloud ice crystals and droplets
Konstantinos Kourtidis, Stavros Stathopoulos, and Vassilis Amiridis
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5935–5946, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5935-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5935-2025, 2025
Short summary
Counteracting influences of gravitational settling modulate aerosol impacts on cloud-base-lowering fog characteristics
Nathan H. Pope and Adele L. Igel
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5433–5444, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5433-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5433-2025, 2025
Short summary
The critical number and size of precipitation embryos to accelerate warm rain initiation
Jung-Sub Lim, Yign Noh, Hyunho Lee, and Fabian Hoffmann
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5313–5329, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5313-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5313-2025, 2025
Short summary
Impact on the stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition of the interaction of cloud microphysics and macrophysics with large-scale circulation
Je-Yun Chun, Robert Wood, Peter N. Blossey, and Sarah J. Doherty
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5251–5271, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5251-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5251-2025, 2025
Short summary
Technical note: Phase space depiction of cloud condensation nuclei activation and cloud droplet diffusional growth
Wojciech W. Grabowski and Hanna Pawlowska
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 5273–5285, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5273-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-5273-2025, 2025
Short summary

Cited articles

Bange, J., Esposito, M., Lenschow, D. H., Brown, P. R. A., Dreiling, V., Giez, A., Mahrt, L., Malinowski, S. P., Rodi, A. R., Shaw, R. A., Siebert, H., Smit, H., and Zöger, M.: Measurement of Aircraft State and Thermodynamic and Dynamic Variables, Chap. 2, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 7–75, ISBN 9783527653218, https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527653218.ch2, 2013. a
Brinkop, S., Dameris, M., Jöckel, P., Garny, H., Lossow, S., and Stiller, G.: The millennium water vapour drop in chemistry–climate model simulations, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 8125–8140, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-8125-2016, 2016. a, b
Burkhardt, U. and Kärcher, B.: Process-based simulation of contrail cirrus in a global climate model, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D16201, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008jd011491, 2009. a
Burkhardt, U., Kärcher, B., Ponater, M., Gierens, K., and Gettelman, A.: Contrail cirrus supporting areas in model and observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L16808, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008gl034056, 2008. a, b
Charlesworth, E., Plöger, F., Birner, T., Baikhadzhaev, R., Ábalos, M., Abraham, N. L., Akiyoshi, H., Bekki, S., Dennison, F., Jöckel, P., Keeble, J., Kinnison, D. E., Morgenstern, O., Plummer, D. A., Rozanov, E., Strode, S. A., Zeng, G., Egorova, T., and Riese, M.: Stratospheric water vapor affecting atmospheric circulation, Nat. Commun., 14, 3925, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39559-2, 2023. a, b
Download
Short summary
Our study examines how well the global climate model EMAC (ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry) predicts contrail formation by analysing temperature and humidity – two key factors for contrail development and persistence. The model underestimates temperature, leading to an overprediction of contrail formation and larger ice-supersaturated regions. Adjusting the model improves temperature accuracy but adds uncertainties. Better predictions of contrail formation areas can help optimise flight tracks to reduce aviation's climate effect.
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint