When it comes to aviation and climate change, CO2 emissions are usually the focus. But according to Google, there’s another, less obvious problem that may be just as important.
That problem is contrails, the thin white streaks that airplanes leave in the sky. According to the Google research report, these cloud-like formations can ultimately trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
How does AI help make flying cleaner?
Google’s solution is to use AI models trained on satellite images, weather data and flight paths to better predict where contrails will form. With this information, airlines can make small adjustments to original flight routes or altitude to avoid creating these contrails.
So the aviation industry doesn’t need to make drastic changes. In most cases, these are minor adjustments during a flight, similar to how pilots adjust their altitude to avoid turbulence.
What has Google’s AI solution achieved?
An interesting fact that the study revealed was how big an impact contrails have on aviation’s climate impact. But Google has already hinted at the approach in collaboration with American Airlines. In initial trials, pilots using the AI-controlled routes were able to reduce contrail formation by more than 50%.
Google recently launched large-scale tests that showed even better results. A study found that flights that followed AI recommendations produced significantly fewer contrails and reduced associated warming impacts.
Why is this more important than you think?
Contrails may seem harmless, but their effects add up. These are formed when aircraft fly through cold, moist air and form ice crystals that can linger and develop into heat-trapping clouds. But rather than restricting flights, the more practical solution is to prevent these contrails from forming.
This is a rare victory for AI, which is often criticized for its drain on resources like electricity. But this is one of those positive examples where it actually has a more positive impact.
