Analysis on the Impact of Different Fuels on Aircraft Contrails and the Environment

Aircraft contrails significantly impact the environment, primarily because they emit gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These contrails are a type of 'cirrus cloud,' composed of young linear condensation trails and older, irregularly shaped trails that they produce. As contrails form, the byproducts of fuel combustion, such as carbon dioxide, linger in the air for a long time, altering the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and causing the atmospheric temperature to rise. Different fuels produce different gases when burned, some of which may be harmful to the environment. In this article, this paper will summarize articles on how different fuels affect contrails and the environment. The results show that different fuels produce different gases when burned, some of which are harmful to the environment, while others are not. Traditional fuels like jet fuel generate carbon dioxide and water vapor, whereas new energy sources like hydrogen do not produce carbon dioxide. Different fuel types primarily influence aircraft contrails through their combustion products and efficiency. Aviation kerosene, as the mainstream fuel, produces water vapor that easily forms contrails under high-altitude, low-temperature conditions. In contrast, biofuels or alternative fuels, due to differences in their chemical composition, may produce less water vapor or other gases that affect contrail formation during combustion.