Should I Be Concerned About Those Trails Planes Leave In The Sky?
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
Q: We are residents of the East Bay and often see planes leaving white patterns which are either harmless contrails or chemtrails intended to somehow impact the environment, perhaps for weather or agricultural purposes. Do you know what these are and how they affect the lives of those living beneath these plumes? - Thank you, David Grant
A: Wow. This is a tough one. For years, this has been one of the most controversial questions I am asked. And while I will pass along what I have learned, I'm sure there we be those who disagree…but that's what I hope for when writing my blog. The opportunity for those to present a solid question or opinion, or perhaps walk away with a new view.
Let's begin with what a "contrail" is. When a jet engine is blows out hot, humid air into an atmosphere that is cold and has low vapor pressure, condensation forms. The water vapor coming out of the engine quickly condenses into water droplets and then crystallizes into ice. The ice crystals are the clouds that form behind the engine. This is why the streaks are called contrails, short for "condensation trails."
For years, many people have come to the conclusion and theorized these contrails are actually "chemtrails." What is in question is whether the contrails consist of just ice crystals and water vapor but other byproducts of engine exhaust as well. It is believed (by chemtrail theorists) these contrails also include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfate particles and soot which can have negative environmental effects on earth as well as physical effects on humans and animals or to partake in other "geoengineering" activities.
As more and more flights take to the sky, there will be more opportunities for contrails to form. And with more contrails, I imagine there will be chemtrail theories, controversy and conversation!
I would love to hear from you! Please send weather questions, observations and photos to me, Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com and I look forward to hearing from you!
