Something in the air

The title of today's post is the title of a 1969 number one record in the UK by Thunderclap Newman. In the context of my photograph it also refers to the pollution and contribution to global warming that aircraft with their jet engines and vapour trails inflict on the world. This particular Boeing 747 that I photographed high above Ross on Wye belongs to the mainly cargo company, Atlas Air, a carrier that I hadn't heard of until I read this Guardian article and watched the accompanying video.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Aerial graffiti

One of the few benefits of Covid-19 was the massive decline in the number of aircraft spewing filth into our upper atmosphere and thereby hastening global warming in a uniquely direct and effective way. And one of the depressing consequences of the semi-triumph over Covid has been holidaymakers and others flocking back to air travel. The evidence for the latter was on display one morning recently when I gazed up at the aerial graffiti on display in the blue sky above me. Each vapour trail (contrail) is evidence of water condensing to form ice crystals around small particles of soot from the aircraft engines. These trails have been described as "one of the few manifestations of man-made climate change agents that you can actually observe".

 photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Tree and sky echoes

As I understand it the willows of varying species that flank the River Wye where it meanders through flatter landscapes serve an important function by anchoring the banks. In their absence the soft soil would be too easily eroded and the river would widen, perhaps change course more readily, and maintain a higher rate of flow, thereby presenting more problems for buildings and farmers. Consequently its not unusual to see the bankside willows being pruned and pollarded to encourage their growth and additional plantings are a reasonably common sight. This relatively large willow has received a heavy pruning but is already beginning to sprout shoots. I passed it some time after three aircraft had passed over. The wind-induced waywardness of their vapour trails echoed the irregular lines of the cropped branches.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2