Under the right environmental conditions, pollution from ships can make long, bright tracks amidst the clouds.
Published Jan 21, 2018
Summer is the time for ship tracks—especially off the west coast of North America.
Published Sep 3, 2018
Ships and islands contributed to an intricate cloud pattern over the northern Pacific Ocean in April 2013.
Published May 5, 2013
Scientists investigate how clouds respond to ship plumes.
Published Aug 29, 2015
Serpentine clouds crossed tracks in the eastern Pacific Ocean in mid-January 2013.
Published Jan 20, 2013
The narrow clouds form when water vapor condenses around tiny particles of pollution.
Published Mar 8, 2012
They may look like airplane contrails, but the streaky clouds shown in this photo-like image formed around the exhaust left in the wake of ships traveling along the northwest coast of North America.
Published Jan 26, 2008
Ship tracks are a common atmospheric occurrence. Scientists are now combining machine learning and satellites to detect them automatically.
Published Jul 3, 2019Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Unique Imagery Human Presence Remote Sensing
Acquired October 5, 2009, this true-color image shows ship trails, which appear brighter and denser than the surrounding clouds, embedded in a cloud bank off the west coast of North America.
Published Oct 7, 2009
On March 4, 2009, the skies over the northeast Pacific Ocean were streaked with clouds that form around the particles in ship exhaust.
Published Mar 12, 2009
