Graduation internship: Accuracy of Simple Shape Approximations for Contrail Evolution

Contrails, or condensation trails, are streams of condensed water vapour that form behind aircraft. Accurate modelling of contrails is crucial for understanding their impact on the environment and aviation. Shortly after formation, a contrail interacts with the wake vortices of the aircraft, significantly affecting its initial shape, the total ice crystal number, and their size and number distributions. The state of the contrail after the vortex phase has a considerable impact on the evolution of the contrail and its climate impact. Currently, the contrail cross-section after the vortex phase is often modelled as a Gaussian ellipse, which is tracked and updated throughout the contrail diffusion phase. Yet, this model is likely too simple to capture the complexities of a contrail. On the other hand, high fidelity LES simulations are computationally very demanding. Therefore, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) seeks an intermediate fidelity tool to simulate contrails in the diffusion phase. Furthermore, an intermediate fidelity tool for the diffusion phase can reveal if a Gaussian ellipse model is accurate enough to represent contrail evolution.

• Develop and validate a trackable parameterization of the contrail plume for the diffusion phase, that is more accurate than a Gaussian ellipse model and has reasonable computational cost;

• Compare results of the new parameterization to the Gaussian ellipse model.

• An intermediate fidelity model for the contrail diffusion phase;

• Assessment of the accuracy of the Gaussian ellipse model.

7-11 months, starting 3rd or 17th of August 2026.

• Graduating master student in Aerospace Engineering;

• Preferably a background in aircraft climate effects;

• Experience with physics-based modelling in python is a plus;

• Assertive and self-motivated.

Royal NLR has been the ambitious research organisation with the will to keep innovating for over 100 years. With that drive, we make the world of transportation safer, more sustainable, more efficient and more effective. We are on the threshold of breakthrough innovations. Plans and ideas start to move when these are fed with the right energy. Over 990 driven professionals work on research and innovation. From aircraft engineers to psychologists and from mathematicians to application experts.

Our colleagues are happy to tell you what it’s like to work at NLR.

This assignment will be managed by the Sustainability team within the Aerospace Operations Sustainability and Environment department.

Send your application, together with your motivation letter and CV to us via the ‘apply’ button!

Have some questions? Contact Wessel Kruin (wessel.kruin@nlr.nl).

Important to keep in mind:

• you will hear from us at the latest on the 10th of July (due to the holiday season)

• the first round interviews will take place in the week of 13th of July

A VOG screening is part of the selection process.