Criss-Crossing Contrails - related image preview

720 x 480
JPEG

Criss-Crossing Contrails - related image preview

2768 x 1845
741 KB - JPEG

Criss-Crossing Contrails - related image preview

JPEG

Criss-Crossing Contrails

When viewed from space, clusters of airplane contrails make distinctive geometrical patterns. Scientists are using satellite detections of contrails to sort out how the long, narrow cirrus clouds impact our climate system.


NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response. Caption by Adam Voiland, with information from Patrick Minnis and Douglas Spangenberg.

Published February 21, 2013
Data acquired February 15, 2013

Source:
Terra > MODIS