Suggestions for Further Study.
Short Term Suggestions.
From conducting this research several areas of possible future study have arisen, which can be carried out within the next couple of years. It is clear from considering the possible climatic effects of contrails and the uncertainties which still exist, that further study within this area is necessary. From this specific study discrepancies in the recording of data exist which need resolving, particularly the classifications of the types of contrails. It is also felt that the analysis of the Lamb (1972) classifications should be continued, to test the occurrence of contrails on each type of weather system/classification, to confirm why contrails are more prevalent on anticyclonic days. It is also hoped that in the future the data from Copenhagen (Pedersen) can be coded in a way that makes it directly comparable with the data from the network.
More stations need to take part in the National Contrail Network to obtain a more even coverage of the UK and that observations need to continue to obtain a longer time scale, which will enable more firm conclusions to be drawn.
Long Term Suggestions.
On a longer time scale it is hoped that, while the data from the network will continue to be collected, Lancaster's Hazelrigg station will begin to study the radiative properties of contrails, information about which has so far been obtained from previous research (IPCC, 1999), as this is one of the most uncertain areas of contrail study; thus if Lancaster could conduct its own research on this and add to the previous research it would be beneficial. Lancaster is also hoping to obtain an 'all sky camera' which will allow an archive to be compiled of photographs of contrails through the whole day. This would allow the actual formation and dissolution of contrails over time to be analysed (and would therefore improve our classifications of the types of contrails). This camera would also mean that contrail observations will continue to only need to be conducted at 9am as if any further data is needed throughout the day it can be obtained from the photographic archive.
There is still much research to be done into contrails and their climatic effects, much more than is possible in the scope of this project, therefore research needs to continue for many more years and so there is still much work to be done by the National Contrail Network.
The National Contrail Network. Discussion and Conclusions.