Articles | Volume 26, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-13485-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-26-13485-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Climate impact of contrail cirrus from hydrogen combustion aircraft
Susanne M. Pettersson
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Maskingränd 2, 412 58 Gothenburg, Sweden
Christian Azar
Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Maskingränd 2, 412 58 Gothenburg, Sweden
Daniel J. A. Johansson
Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Maskingränd 2, 412 58 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Short summary
Hydrogen-combustion aircraft could reduce aviation’s climate impact by eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and, in most cases, forming less warming cloud cover than jet-fuel aircraft. We used climate and aircraft modelling to study how these clouds form when soot is replaced by other particles, especially lubrication oil. The results suggest that hydrogen aircraft could be cleaner, but this depends partly on engine designs that limit lubrication oil emissions.
Hydrogen-combustion aircraft could reduce aviation’s climate impact by eliminating carbon...
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