In the framework of the fifteenth edition of the European Researchers’ Night, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, as part of its program of science outreach activities, once again offered a theater and science activity aimed at secondary school students and the general public. But this year, the focus was on artificial intelligence.
AI, aircraft contrails and climate
The Aircraft Operations Lab UC3M brought the ongoing EU research on artificial intelligence and climate to the public forefront, featuring the E-CONTRAIL project. Manuel Soler, from UC3M’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and coordinator of the E-CONTRAIL project, presented key insights on the topic with the talk titled “AI to Analyze the Impact of Aircraft Contrails on Climate”.
He emphasized the importance of understanding how and when contrails form and their potential effects on climate change. Interestingly, under certain conditions, contrails can even contribute to global cooling. The discussion highlighted how satellite data, cutting-edge AI techniques, and climate science work together to unravel this phenomenon.
By leveraging AI, researchers aim to optimize air traffic management, potentially redirecting aircraft away from regions prone to contrail formation. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also plays a critical role in mitigating climate impact.
Watch the full presentation here:
For more information on E-CONTRAIL visit the project website