contrails


contrails

A long trail of visible moisture left by an airplane as it flies at a high altitude through very cold air. The trails are formed by the condensation of water vapor in the exhaust gases leaving the engine. They appear at a slight distance behind the aircraft exhaust. Their longevity can vary from a fraction of a second to a few minutes. The minimum flight level at which these trails occur is called the MINTRA level, which meteorologists obtain from a tephigram. Also called vapor trails or exhaust trails.