Schematic overview of the processes by which air transport emissions and contrail cirrus clouds influence the climate system
Schematic overview of the processes by which air transport emissions and contrail cirrus clouds influence the climate system
This schematic illustration shows climate-impacting factors in air transport. Contributions to global warming are caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrogen oxides and soot, as well as by contrails. Climate-cooling contributions are caused by the emission of sulphate aerosols. The net warming effect caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides results from the sum of warming (short-term increase in ozone) and cooling contributions (decrease in methane and stratospheric water vapour and long-term decrease in ozone). The net warming from contrails is a sum over the day-night cycle. These contributions include a variety of chemical, microphysical, transport and radiation processes in the global atmosphere.
