You just shot your argument down before it started.

Opponent Exhibit #1: Contrail definition by NOAA: A contrail is the condensation trail that is left behind by a passing jet plane. Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhaust mixes with environmental air of low vapor pressure and low temperature. Vapor pressure is just a fancy term for the amount of pressure that is exerted by water vapor itself (as opposed to atmospheric, or barometric, pressure which is due to the weight of the entire atmosphere above you). The mixing occurs directly behind the plane due to the turbulence generated by the engine. If condensation (conversion from a gas to a liquid) occurs, then a contrail becomes visible. Since air temperatures at these high atmospheric levels are very cold (generally colder than -40 F), only a small amount of liquid is necessary for condensation to occur. Water is a normal byproduct of combustion in engines. [link to www.wrh.noaa.gov]


Case closed.

I in no way feel the above definition by NOAA limits my chances of winning. Why don't you observe the Trial and see.


The point is that the "normal" definition of contrails explains everything observed perfectly well. Why bring un-needed complexity into something that is really very simple.