I noticed many contrails today

[debodun]

When I was out delivering meals, almost the whole sky was covered in zig-zag contrails. Likely military jets. Makes me wonder why all the airborne activity.

 

[hollydolly]

We have that often...I live almost exactly in the middle between 2 Major London airports....

 

[Lewkat]

Great day for flying in my area.

 

[IrishEyes]

More than 4 helicopters all together flying towards Washington DC used to worry me
when I lived in Virginia

 

[Sliverfox]

I was admiring the lovely Blue White skies as I walked Mac this afternoon.
Did see a jet far above us.

I was trying to figure how to get a picture of the sky,, for once wasn't wondering who's jet it was.

 

[oldman]

It’s possible the jet stream shifted the planners decision on making flight plans differently to avoid headwinds. I see that the dip in the jet stream is hanging over the mid Atlantic states. Flight planners try to avoid the dip in the jet stream to avoid the headwinds.

 

[jujube]

The level of humidity of the air up there has a lot to do with it.

 

[oldman]

The level of humidity of the air up there has a lot to do with it.

That’s a no brainer. We wouldn’t get any contrails without humidity. What I was referring to is that winds move the ice crystals that form a contrail into a tighter, denser contrail, which makes them last longer.

Hypothetical Question:
While you’re on the ground and looking up at the sky and see the contrails from 2 aircraft and if the planes at the same altitude pass each other in different directions, why does one contrail fade faster than the other?

 

[Oldeagle66]

See tons of them every day. A few airports and military base nearby.