Google said it has made a major breakthrough in the field of artificial intelligence, can greatly reduce the impact of flight on the climate.
The long white lines left in the air by airplanes are called contrail clouds, and they are formed when the soot emitted by airplanes condenses into ice crystals at freezing altitudes. Trailing clouds can sometimes make the sky cloudy and contribute to global warming by blocking the heat given off by the Earth. The United Nations estimates that contrail clouds from airplanes account for more than one-third of the global warming impact of flight.
Image source Pixabay
If airplanes could avoid areas where contrail clouds tend to form, they could reduce their impact on global warming. To achieve this, Google researchers have utilized artificial intelligence technology that collects satellite imagery, weather and flight path data and feeds it into an AI system that can provide pilots with routes to avoid creating contrail clouds.
Google partnered with an airline and a data provider to conduct 70 test flights over a six-month period, allowing American Airlines pilots to follow routes generated by the AI system. The researchers then examined satellite imagery and found a 54 percent reduction in contrail clouds.
“This is the first evidence that commercial flights can reduce contrail clouds, thereby reducing their impact on the climate.” Google said in its announcement. It is noted that Google also pointed out that the flights consumed 2 percent more fuel, but Google believes the routes can be used selectively. Google said it will “work with the entire aviation industry over the next few years to use artificial intelligence to make the elimination of contrail clouds a reality,” saying it has “the potential to be a cost-effective, scalable solution to reduce the climate impact of flights.”
