Global Warming

New Ice Haze Over Earth From Surge in Jet Traffic

A gradual brightening of Earth’s skies since the 1970s and 1980s is being linked to an icy haze in the upper atmosphere, brought on by an expansion of jet air traffic.

NOAA scientists announced the phenomenon at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

Chuck Long told the gathering that there is strong circumstantial evidence linking the icy haze to the greater number of aircraft contrails over the past few decades.

While Long doesn’t believe the haze is having a significant effect on the climate, he says it is an example of “accidental geoengineering.”

"If you look up the definition of geoengineering, it includes large-scale manipulation of parts of the climate system or the environment, and I believe this ice haze from jet traffic does satisfy that requirement," Long told reporters.

Scientists say jet contrails, like these over northern California, are responsible for Earth’s new “ice haze.”