This is how science debunks the crazy hoax of “chemical trails” spraying the sky with chemicals

“Chemtrails” are one of the most repeated hoaxes on social networks, which unfortunately never go out of fashion.
Daniel Injmi Daniel Injmi Italy meteorite 10 minutes

Chemtrails is one of the biggest scams that unfortunately never goes out of style. Regardless of various misinformation campaigns and the opinions of individuals unfamiliar with scientific thinking, Let's try to shed some light on a very sensitive topic.“condensation paths” (the term “chemistry paths” does not exist), known in English as “contrails”.

All aircraft, in addition to water vapor, emit other substances Such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons such as methane and sulfates and their molecules as a natural product of combustion.

How are jets formed?

The air expelled by an airplane's turbines contains steam (In addition to the substances mentioned above), which are added to what is already present in the atmosphere. Moreover, at these altitudes, about 10 kilometers above sea level, Air temperatures are very low (It can drop below -60°C) to favor further expansion.

Vapor adhesion, with cooling (due to ambient environment and expansion), leads to the formation of… Rapid condensation of water vapor itself, facilitating the development of a “condensation path”.

The jet
All aircraft, in addition to water vapor, emit other substances and particles as a natural product of combustion.

Once formed, The cloud can undergo different thermodynamic transformations, depending on the physical properties of the air mass. in which it was found. For this reason, condensation paths can be more or less wide or change shape very quickly in the presence of very strong winds at altitude.

Specifically, the persistence of “oil” depends on what is called supersaturation with respect to ice. The first person to study the phenomenon of “jet” was the scientist H. Appleman in 1953. At the end of his studies, he created a graph that became famous among experts.

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Of course, both charts can be used to make… Predictions about the probability of jet formationAnd also for subsequent examinations.

The Importance of H. Appleman's Chart

to use, AndIt is necessary to know the temperature and relative humidity at the aircraft's altitude. To obtain this information, simply consult an application, such as the very popular Flightradar24, which allows you to see what meteorological conditions exist on that specific route (temperature and humidity) in real time, and from there apply this data to the H graph. Appleman.

This graph will allow us to see if the right environmental conditions exist at that moment for a “condensation path” to develop.

We notice within the graph that the two most important lines are the 0% line and the 100% line (relative humidity). If it is colder than the temperature indicated by the 0% line, a “condensation trail” forms. Although the relative humidity of the atmosphere is zero. This is because the aircraft will provide enough moisture to produce the “jet”, and no moisture from the atmosphere will be needed to form the cloud.

Drawing by H. Appleman
This graph will allow us to see if the right environmental conditions exist at that moment for a “condensation path” to develop. Image source https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Use-of-the-Appleman-chart-for-flight-altitude-planning_fig1_223163146

According to the chart, Condensation trails are always formed when the temperature value is to the left of the 0% line. If the atmosphere is warmer than the temperature indicated by the 100% line, a “jet” cannot form even if the relative humidity of the atmosphere is 100%.

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In this range, the combined humidity of aircraft exhaust gases and atmospheric humidity will never be sufficient to generate a cloud. So, Temperature profiles to the right of the 100% line will never cause “jetting”.

For temperatures between the 0% and 100% lines, the probability of a 'jet' forming will depend on the atmospheric humidity, which is represented on the graph by relative humidity. When the temperature is between the 0% and 100% lines, “oil” may also form, but it will not be stable.

About humidity and saturated air

When we talk about air saturation, we are supposed to be referring to the condensation of vapor into water droplets. When our relative humidity is 100%, we say the air is saturated with water vapor. At that temperature, it can no longer contain water in a vapor state without condensing (assuming the presence of condensation nuclei, which is a reality at low altitudes).

Condensation path
Vapor adhesion, combined with cooling (due to ambient environment and expansion), makes rapid condensation of the same water vapor more or less likely, favoring the development of “jetting”.

The water vapor present exerts its own pressure called… The “vapor pressure” that is added to the air pressure in the absence of steam.

If equilibrium is reached in the presence of water and steam simultaneouslys (That is, the number of molecules that enter the liquid state is equal to the number of molecules that enter the vapor state, but not all the vapor condenses and not all the water evaporates), Then we find ourselves in conditions of “steamy” air.The steam exerts what is known as “saturated vapor pressure” and the hygrometer will read a relative humidity of 100%.

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Relative humidity It is called that precisely because It represents the amount of vapor in the air Compared to the amount of vapor the air itself can contain without condensing.

The importance of air mass temperatures

But this depends on the temperature, since If the temperature rises (further thermal agitation expels water molecules), Evaporation will tend to prevail over condensation Thus equilibrium is reached for larger amounts of steam (more steam is needed to saturate the air). Therefore, for the same total vapor content in the air, the relative humidity increases as the temperature decreases and vice versa.

Contrail
When talking about air saturation, it is assumed that we are talking about the condensation of vapor into water droplets.

In addition to water, this also applies to ice. As we know, water can move from the vapor state to the solid state and vice versa, by following the processes of “crystallization” and “sublimation”. but Separating water molecules from ice is not the same as separating them in the liquid state. In essence, the relative humidity with respect to ice is quantitatively different.

However, if we continue to use relative humidity in relation to water, Saturation for ice occurs at values ​​less than 100%. This is important because “jets” form at high altitudes, where temperatures are very low. This is exactly why they are made of ice.

Aileen Morales

"Beer nerd. Food fanatic. Alcohol scholar. Tv practitioner. Writer. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot."

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