Chemtrails

Are chemtrails a method to dispose of toxic waste? A neurological agent designed to control the population? A way to control the weather? What are chemtrails really?

Perhaps one of the most interesting and compelling conspiracies: chemtrails. Chemtrails conspiracists insist that the trails often left behind airplanes serve some cynical purpose. Theories range from chemtrails consisting of neurological agents designed to brainwash people to “cloud seeding” - a way to control the weather. While these explanations are entertaining to say the least, the actual chemistry behind chemtrails is quite simple and frankly a little less crazy.

Chemtrails are called contrails which are streaks of water vapour created by aircrafts. As aircrafts burn jet fuel to power their engines, they exhaust combustion byproducts including carbon dioxide and water. At high altitudes, the water vapour exhaust is at an elevated temperature compared to the atmosphere and therefore will condense. Particles in the air and those released from the exhaust provide sites of condensation for the water vapour and clouds of water are formed.

What makes contrails an easy conspiracy target is their inconsistent nature. Contrails visibility and duration depend on the relative humidity of the atmosphere, the altitude of the plane and the temperature. For example, an airplane travelling at high altitude on a cold, humid day will leave thick, fluffy contrails behind them since the water vapour will condense more readily. So next time your crazy neighbour tells you about the toxic chemtrails in the sky, you can take comfort in the fact that chemtrails are just water vapour. Chemistry can explain chemtrails but unfortunately can’t explain why your neighbour is crazy.