Technology update

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April 2005

Countering contrails

Since the early days of aviation, vapor trails (contrails) have signified high-flying aircraft. But these are unwelcome signatures for military aircraft, and with the rising numbers of civil airliners and business jets (air travel is growing at between 3 to 5% per annum, and air freight by 7%), their proliferation is raising environmental issues. Because of the high altitudes at which they are formed, they effectively become cirrus clouds, trapping warmth in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming, according to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The problem is how to prevent them.
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