A chemtrail is a term used by many observers to describe the persistent white trails left behind by aircraft in the sky. While officially classified as condensation trails (contrails) formed when hot jet exhaust meets cold atmospheric air, a growing community of concerned citizens questions whether all trails can be explained this simply. ChemTracker lets you investigate for yourself by showing you exactly which aircraft are leaving trails, at what altitude, and under what atmospheric conditions — so you can draw your own conclusions based on real data.

How does ChemTracker work?

ChemTracker combines real-time ADS-B flight data with atmospheric science to show you every aircraft in your area. It uses your location, live weather data including humidity and temperature at cruising altitude, and the known science of contrail formation to predict which planes are likely producing visible trails. You can point your phone at the sky and see overlaid flight information in real time.

Can I track chemtrails in real-time?

Yes. ChemTracker provides real-time tracking of all aircraft in your vicinity and highlights which ones are currently producing visible trails. Using live ADS-B transponder data and atmospheric readings, the app updates continuously so you can monitor exactly what is happening in the sky above your location at any moment. You can also set up alerts to be notified when trail-producing aircraft enter your area.

What is the difference between a chemtrail and a contrail?

A contrail (condensation trail) is the official explanation for the white lines left by aircraft — formed when water vapor in jet exhaust freezes in cold, humid air at high altitudes. The term chemtrail is used by researchers and observers who believe some trails may contain additional substances beyond normal water vapor, noting that some trails persist and spread for hours while others disappear quickly. ChemTracker helps you study these differences by showing atmospheric conditions, aircraft identity, altitude, and trail persistence predictions for every flight overhead.

Chemtrails Live

Last updated: 20 April 2026 at 07:56

Right now, dozens of aircraft are flying through conditions that favor visible trail formation above your location. ChemTracker monitors real-time atmospheric data at every cruising altitude and tells you exactly which flights are producing contrails — using the same thermodynamic models that aviation meteorologists rely on.

Current Conditions (Central Europe)

TRAIL LIKELIHOOD

None

FAVORABLE LEVELS

0/8

SOLAR VISIBILITY

Excellent

SUN ELEVATION

30°

0 of 8 atmospheric pressure levels currently show conditions favorable for contrail formation.

Last updated: 20 Apr 2026, 07:56

What ChemTracker Shows You Right Now

Most aircraft tracking apps show you flight numbers and routes. ChemTracker goes further: it overlays real-time atmospheric science on every flight so you can see not just where aircraft are, but whether they are producing trails at this moment. Learn why some planes leave trails and others don't.

Live Flight Positions

Every aircraft within range updated every 5–15 seconds via ADS-B, including altitude, speed, heading, flight number, and aircraft type.

Atmospheric Conditions at Altitude

Temperature and relative humidity pulled from weather model data at 8 pressure levels — from 200 hPa (roughly 12,000 m) down through the tropopause. These are the conditions the aircraft is actually flying through, not conditions at ground level.

Trail Probability Score

Each aircraft receives a trail likelihood score based on the Schmidt-Appleman criterion applied to its current position. Scores above the threshold are flagged as active trail producers. A Monte Carlo simulation adds a probability band accounting for atmospheric measurement uncertainty.

Sky Scanner

Point your phone camera at the sky. ChemTracker identifies the aircraft you are looking at, displays its flight details, and tells you whether conditions at that altitude currently favor trail formation.

The live view does not require any configuration. Open the app, allow location access, and ChemTracker immediately shows you the aircraft currently overhead, sorted by distance and trail activity status.

Current Atmospheric Conditions for Trail Formation

Trails form when jet exhaust meets cold, humid air at cruising altitude. The key variables that determine whether you will see trails today are:

Upper-Troposphere Temperature

At 250 hPa (roughly 10–11 km), air must be below approximately −40°C for contrail formation. Colder air means a wider margin for trail formation.

Relative Humidity (Ice)

Humidity relative to ice, not liquid water, governs persistence. Above 100% RHi, trails persist and spread. Below 100%, they dissipate within minutes.

Tropopause Height

A low tropopause — common in winter and at high latitudes — means aircraft cruise in colder, often moister air, dramatically increasing trail activity.

Wind Shear

Strong horizontal wind shear at altitude disperses trails quickly even in supersaturated conditions. Light winds allow trails to spread into large sheets.

ChemTracker retrieves all four parameters in real time from weather model outputs. The app compares these values against each aircraft's actual altitude to determine which flights are currently in trail-forming conditions.

Conditions change throughout the day. A morning with clear skies and no visible trails can become an afternoon with widespread persistent trail activity if an upper-level moisture plume moves through. The live feed captures these transitions as they happen. Check the contrail forecast to see what is expected ahead.

How Live Trail Detection Works

Every second, ChemTracker runs a pipeline that combines three data sources:

ADS-B flight data — position, altitude, and speed for every aircraft broadcasting in range. Coverage spans Europe and North America with near-complete density above major air corridors.
Atmospheric model data — temperature, humidity, and pressure interpolated to the exact altitude of each aircraft from global numerical weather prediction model outputs updated every hour.
Schmidt-Appleman calculation — for each aircraft, the critical temperature threshold G is computed based on engine efficiency, fuel properties, and ambient pressure. If the ambient temperature is below this threshold and relative humidity is sufficient, the flight is flagged as a current trail producer.

The result appears on your screen within seconds: a colour-coded map showing active trail producers (red), possible trail producers (amber), and aircraft not currently in trail-forming conditions (grey). Tap any aircraft to see the full atmospheric breakdown.

“Instead of speculating about what you see in the sky, ChemTracker gives you the actual atmospheric data for each aircraft right now — the same data that would be used to predict trails in any honest scientific assessment.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there chemtrails today?

ChemTracker checks atmospheric conditions at cruising altitudes right now — temperature, humidity, and pressure — and applies the Schmidt-Appleman criterion to every aircraft in your area. If conditions favor trail formation, you will see which specific flights are likely producing visible trails. Open the app to see what is happening above you in real time.

How often does ChemTracker update its live data?

Flight positions update every 5 to 15 seconds via ADS-B receiver networks. Atmospheric data from weather models refreshes hourly, pulled from the same datasets used by aviation meteorologists. Trail predictions update continuously as aircraft move through different atmospheric layers.

What does 'live trail activity' mean?

Live trail activity refers to the number of aircraft currently flying through atmospheric conditions that meet the threshold for visible trail formation. ChemTracker calculates this in real time for your location, showing you exactly which flights are at altitudes and in conditions where trails are expected based on the Schmidt-Appleman criterion.

Can I see chemtrails from past days?

The live feed shows current activity. ChemTracker's stats page provides aggregated historical data including daily trail activity counts, peak activity hours, and atmospheric condition trends. For real-time tracking of today's activity, the live map is the primary tool.