Multiple Contrail Shadows

Imaged by Patrik Trnc�k at Holesov, Czech Republic.     ©Patrik Trnc�k.

Three shadows darken the cirrus haze above a contrail. A weak ice halo crosses the trail.

The aircraft trail of water droplets and ice crystals is at a greater altitude than three discrete layers of cirrus haze. The trail casts a shadow on each layer.

Ice crystals in at least two of the layers contributed to the halo. The contrail shadows the sun and locally blocks halo formation.