Takeoffs and landings cause more precipitation near airports, researchers find
Thursday, June 30, 2011 - 14:31
in Earth & Climate
Researchers have found that areas near commercial airports sometimes experience a small but measurable increase in rain and snow when aircraft take off and land under certain atmospheric conditions. The new study is part of ongoing research that focuses on so-called hole punch and canal clouds that form when planes fly through certain mid-level clouds, forcing nearby air to rapidly expand and cool.