Physics Commons^™

Near-Field Measurements On Contrail Properties From Fuels With Different Sulfur Content, Andreas Petzold, Reinhold Busen, Franz Peter Schroder, Robert Baumann, Markus Kuhn, Johan Strom, Donald E. Hagen, Philip D. Whitefield, Darrel G. Baumgardner, Frank Arnold, Stephan Borrmann, Ulrich Schumann

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microphysical properties of jet exhaust aerosol and contrails were studied in the near field of the emitting aircraft for different fuel sulfur contents. Measurements were performed behind two different aircraft (ATTAS test aircraft of type VFW 614 and Airbus A310-300) using fuels with sulfur contents of 6 ppm and 2700 ppm, respectively. At closest approach (plume age < 1 s), the total number concentrations exceeded the measuring range of the condensation particle counter, i.e., N > 10⁵ cm^-3. The concentration of the dry accumulation mode aerosol, i.e., predominantly soot particles, was not affected by the fuel sulfur content. At a plume age of 10 s, an increase in total number concentration (Dp > 0.01 μm) by a …