vapour trail

vapour trail

also called  Condensation Trail, or Contrail,  

      streamer of cloud sometimes observed behind an airplane flying in clear, cold, humid air. It forms upon condensation of the water vapour produced by the combustion of fuel in the airplane engines. When the ambient relative humidity is high, the resulting ice-crystal plume may last for several hours. The trail may be distorted by the winds, and sometimes it spreads outwards to form a layer of cirrus cloud. On rare occasions, when the air is nearly saturated with water vapour, air circulation at the wing tips of an airplane may cause sufficient pressure and temperature reductions to cause cloud streamers to form.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • vapour trail — vapour trails N COUNT A vapour trail is a white line of water vapour left in the sky by an aeroplane, a rocket, or a missile. (in AM, use vapor trail) …   English dictionary

  • vapour trail — noun A white trail of condensed vapour left by high flying aircraft (also US contrail) • • • Main Entry: ↑vapour …   Useful english dictionary

  • vapour trail — BrE vapor trail AmE n the white line that is left in the sky by a plane …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • vapour trail — ► NOUN ▪ a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky …   English terms dictionary

  • vapour trail — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms vapour trail : singular vapour trail plural vapour trails the long white line seen in the sky behind a plane …   English dictionary

  • vapour trail — n. to leave a vapour trail (high flying aircraft leave vapour trails) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • vapour trail — /ˈveɪpə treɪl/ (say vaypuh trayl) noun a trail of condensed vapour left by high flying aeroplanes, rockets, etc. Also, vapor trail …  

  • vapour trail — noun a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky …   English new terms dictionary

  • vapour trail — BrE vapor trail AmE noun (C) the white line that is left in the sky by a plane …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • vapour trail — noun A contrail …   Wiktionary

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