Moist air can cause contrails to spread and become sprawling cirrus clouds. Are there climate consequences?
Published Jun 2, 2012
A striking display of high-altitude clouds over the Pacific Ocean are clearly cirrus, but further classification remains elusive.
Published May 29, 2015
Cloud streets form thousands of feet above the Earth’s surface.
Published Mar 12, 2017
When viewed from space, clusters of airplane contrails make distinctive geometrical patterns. Scientists are using satellite detections of contrails to sort out how the long, narrow cirrus clouds impact our climate system.
Published Feb 21, 2013
Cool air moving across Arctic sea ice gives rise to long parallel bands of cumulus clouds over the Norwegian Sea.
Published Mar 31, 2016Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Unique Imagery Snow and Ice
The corridor between the United States and Mexico is a fairly busy one for air traffic—heavy enough to produce plenty of contrails, but not so much that they all blend together.
Published May 14, 2019
Strong winds gusted over the Gulf of Mexico on December 16, 2007, and though the wind is invisible in these photo-like snapshots, its presence is written in the clouds and on the surface of the water.
Published Dec 19, 2007
Valentine’s Day didn't warm a lot of hearts in the eastern United States.
Published Feb 16, 2016
A vertical profile of wispy, icy clouds reveals their complex structure.
Published Jul 15, 2015
