These long-lasting, large-scale vortices differ from naturally occurring ones in several key ways. The most important of these is atmospheric location: aircraft-produced vortices form at approximately 30,000 feet, which is the average cruising altitude of commercial airliners.
This is also the altitude at which atmospheric water vapor typically condenses. This condensation is exacerbated by the presence of large vortices, because they tend to be saturated with condensation nuclei such as CO2, pollen, and dust swept up from the Earth’s surface. Water vapor latches onto these, and is transported up and down the vortex lines, which extend from aircraft’s points of origin to their destinations. Because the temperature of the exhaust fumes is extremely high \citep{Eckbreth_1984}25, they tend to melt ice molecules from clouds as aircraft pass, increasing the vapor available for condensation. In fact, ice molecules can be seen entering but not exiting the vortex as they are vaporized
Speaking generally, the atmosphere holds more water vapor suspended over a given square meter of the Earth’s surface at higher altitudes than it does at lower altitudes, just because the available volume of air increases exponentially as one travels upward. This is why aircraft-produced vortices could very well affect weather patterns: they redistribute water vapor and condensation nuclei, concentrating them along high-traffic flight paths, producing a consequent concentration of condensation and it is submitted that this phenomenon carries the inherent risk of losing water molecules from Earth’s atmospheric system. This risk to all life on Earth needs urgent attention through extensive research and precautionary policy measures.
4. Evidence of the atmospheric effects of wake turbulence
4.1. “Fallstreak” or “hole-punch” clouds
The above logical model is built based on the following considerations. First, the existence of fallstreak clouds, which represent a reduced-scale version of the same effect. Fallstreak clouds, also known as hole-punch clouds, are examples of vortices created by aircraft as they pass through the cloud layer (Figure \ref{968910}). Surrounding clouds are drawn toward the vortices, and, because these both contain high concentrations of potential condensation nuclei and are of sufficiently high temperature to melt cloud-born ice molecules, they produce condensation that falls to Earth as rain, snow, or hail (\citet{Heymsfield_2010}; \citet{Heymsfield_2011})26,27.