Want good weather? Don't get on a plane

[Bernie P]

•Planes said to affect weather near airports
•Aircraft "creates hole in cloud that cools"
•This increases chance of rain and snow

YOU may be jetting off to warmer climes, but the plane you're travelling on could be creating bad weather for the people below.
New research claims jet planes may increase the chance of rain and snow in areas around airports.

Dr Andrew Heymsfield, from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, said aircraft flying through super-cooled clouds creates a sudden drop in temperature that freezes water droplets and turns them into ice crystals.

This creates a hole in the cloud and after several hours, the hole can cover a large area, resulting in rain or snow falls below.


The research team used satellite images and weather forecasting computer models to examine how often cloud seeding occurred.

They found super-cooled cloud layers can be found within 100km of the world's major airports as much as six per cent of the time.

Mr Heymsfield said the event involving aircraft is similar to “cloud seeding” operations, where scientists deliberately create ice crystals in the atmosphere to make it rain.

The Beijing Weather Modification Office used the seeding technique to drain clouds ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics.

Although successful, it is unclear whether the lack of rain during the event was due to human action or good luck.

News.com.au

FULL story as well...

I'd be keen to know if anyone else share a little cynicism over this... Personally, I think its a little 'pie in the sky' (pardon the punn) stuff given most aircraft at cruise are well over cloud formations, or at least, diverting around the ones up at that level??

[Matt_L]

pretty much up there for one of the stupidest articles ive ever seen.

This one will win a Walkely award for stupidity!

What qualifications does this Dr have- seems nowadays anyone and everyone is a Doctor or has a prophecy and can gain media attention