High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft
<p>In this study, we investigate the properties of young contrails formed behind hydrogen-powered aircraft, particularly compared to contrails from conventional kerosene combustion. High-resolution simulations of individual contrails are performed using the EULAG-LCM model, a large-eddy simula...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/7903/2025/acp-25-7903-2025.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850077992696414208 |
|---|---|
| author | A. Lottermoser S. Unterstrasser |
| author_facet | A. Lottermoser S. Unterstrasser |
| author_sort | A. Lottermoser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>In this study, we investigate the properties of young contrails formed behind hydrogen-powered aircraft, particularly compared to contrails from conventional kerosene combustion. High-resolution simulations of individual contrails are performed using the EULAG-LCM model, a large-eddy simulation model with fully coupled particle-based ice microphysics.</p>
<p>Previous studies on early contrail evolution during the vortex phase have explored a range of meteorological and aircraft-related parameters, but they have focused on contrails with ice crystal numbers and water vapor emissions typical of kerosene combustion.</p>
<p>This study examines the early H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>-contrail evolution, starting at a state where ice crystal formation and wake vortex roll-up are complete. Two key parameters are adjusted: the emitted water vapor mass and the number of ice crystals formed during the initial stage. The emitted water vapor varies between 3.7 and 38.6 g per flight meter, depending on the fuel and aircraft type. The initial ice crystal number spans 4 orders of magnitude, from approximately 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>10</sup></span> to 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>14</sup></span> ice crystals per flight meter. Additionally, we extend our atmospheric scenarios to ambient temperatures up to 235 K, as H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> contrails can form under warmer conditions where kerosene plumes typically cannot.</p>
<p>Our results show that vortex phase processes reduce the 4-order-of-magnitude difference in ice crystal number to 2 orders of magnitude. Moreover, relative ice crystal loss increases with increasing ambient temperatures and decreasing relative humidity levels.</p>
<p>Finally, we extend the parameterization of ice crystal loss from a previous study to include scenarios of contrails from hydrogen propulsion systems.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d3d34c7d10424fa39e23128957fb5ead |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-d3d34c7d10424fa39e23128957fb5ead2025-08-20T02:45:41ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-07-01257903792410.5194/acp-25-7903-2025High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraftA. Lottermoser0S. Unterstrasser1Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyInstitut für Physik der Atmosphäre, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany<p>In this study, we investigate the properties of young contrails formed behind hydrogen-powered aircraft, particularly compared to contrails from conventional kerosene combustion. High-resolution simulations of individual contrails are performed using the EULAG-LCM model, a large-eddy simulation model with fully coupled particle-based ice microphysics.</p> <p>Previous studies on early contrail evolution during the vortex phase have explored a range of meteorological and aircraft-related parameters, but they have focused on contrails with ice crystal numbers and water vapor emissions typical of kerosene combustion.</p> <p>This study examines the early H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span>-contrail evolution, starting at a state where ice crystal formation and wake vortex roll-up are complete. Two key parameters are adjusted: the emitted water vapor mass and the number of ice crystals formed during the initial stage. The emitted water vapor varies between 3.7 and 38.6 g per flight meter, depending on the fuel and aircraft type. The initial ice crystal number spans 4 orders of magnitude, from approximately 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>10</sup></span> to 10<span class="inline-formula"><sup>14</sup></span> ice crystals per flight meter. Additionally, we extend our atmospheric scenarios to ambient temperatures up to 235 K, as H<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> contrails can form under warmer conditions where kerosene plumes typically cannot.</p> <p>Our results show that vortex phase processes reduce the 4-order-of-magnitude difference in ice crystal number to 2 orders of magnitude. Moreover, relative ice crystal loss increases with increasing ambient temperatures and decreasing relative humidity levels.</p> <p>Finally, we extend the parameterization of ice crystal loss from a previous study to include scenarios of contrails from hydrogen propulsion systems.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/7903/2025/acp-25-7903-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Lottermoser S. Unterstrasser High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft |
| title_full | High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft |
| title_fullStr | High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft |
| title_short | High-resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen-powered aircraft |
| title_sort | high resolution modeling of early contrail evolution from hydrogen powered aircraft |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/7903/2025/acp-25-7903-2025.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alottermoser highresolutionmodelingofearlycontrailevolutionfromhydrogenpoweredaircraft AT sunterstrasser highresolutionmodelingofearlycontrailevolutionfromhydrogenpoweredaircraft |