Contrails and Thunderstorms

[CbIncus]

This is the topic for discussion of contrail effects on thunderstorms and other similar phenomena.

The most important thing is that thunderstorm anvils create vast amounts of cirriform clouds, which can be a favourable region for persistent contrail formation. That's why some people tell something like "they spray before storms".

An interesting example. 8 June 2013 was quite a stormy day in Europe, and Moldova was affected too. Cb tops reached the altitude of 12 km, forming dense cirrus. The satellite image and the photos prove it.



Inverse relationship: Cirrus and Altostratus clouds can be a sign of warm air advection in upper troposphere. It can act like a stable layer, weakening new Cumulus congestus and Cumulonimbus clouds and even suppressing storm development.

 

[Pete]

Maybe I've misunderstood you, but perhaps its more likely due to the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at contrail altitude first...

Thunderstorms form due two differing masses of air meeting/passing one another.... One of these will be right conditions for contrail formation.

The 'believers' are just working backwards from their hypothesis, instead of accepting that its atmospheric conditions that allow storms to form, as well as contrails.

 

[CbIncus]

Maybe I've misunderstood you, but perhaps its more likely due to the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at contrail altitude first...

Thunderstorms create more humidity at cirrus clouds level. More humidity means more persistent contrails.

Thunderstorms form due two differing masses of air meeting/passing one another.... One of these will be right conditions for contrail formation.

That's a misconception partially. Thunderstorms can form not only on fronts - they are called "air-mass" storms which are triggered by solar heating. So persistent trails are possible far away from major low pressure systems, even in a dissipating anticyclone.

The 'believers' are just working backwards from their hypothesis, instead of accepting that its atmospheric conditions that allow storms to form, as well as contrails.

You're right. "Chemtrailers" just don't want to listen to atmospheric science and say "Persistent trails are impossible".