TY - JOUR
T1 - Formation and spread of aircraft-induced holes in clouds
AU - Heymsfield, Andrew J.
AU - Thompson, Gregory
AU - Morrison, Hugh
AU - Bansemer, Aaron
AU - Rasmussen, Roy M.
AU - Minnis, Patrick
AU - Wang, Zhien
AU - Zhang, Damao
PY - 2011/7/1
Y1 - 2011/7/1
N2 - Hole-punch and canal clouds have been observed for more than 50 years, but the mechanisms of formation, development, duration, and thus the extent of their effect have largely been ignored. The holes have been associated with inadvertent seeding of clouds with ice particles generated by aircraft, produced through spontaneous freezing of cloud droplets in air cooled as it flows around aircraft propeller tips or over jet aircraft wings. Model simulations indicate that the growth of the ice particles can induce vertical motions with a duration of 1 hour or more, a process that expands the holes and canals in clouds. Global effects are minimal, but regionally near major airports, additional precipitation can be induced.
AB - Hole-punch and canal clouds have been observed for more than 50 years, but the mechanisms of formation, development, duration, and thus the extent of their effect have largely been ignored. The holes have been associated with inadvertent seeding of clouds with ice particles generated by aircraft, produced through spontaneous freezing of cloud droplets in air cooled as it flows around aircraft propeller tips or over jet aircraft wings. Model simulations indicate that the growth of the ice particles can induce vertical motions with a duration of 1 hour or more, a process that expands the holes and canals in clouds. Global effects are minimal, but regionally near major airports, additional precipitation can be induced.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/79959854923
U2 - 10.1126/science.1202851
DO - 10.1126/science.1202851
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79959854923
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 333
SP - 77
EP - 81
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 6038
ER -