Chemtrail conspiracy theory

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File:Highflyingplanec.JPG
High flying white jet leaving an expanding contrail

The chemtrail conspiracy theory holds that some contrails are actually chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitudes for a purpose undisclosed to the general public[1] in clandestine programs directed by government officials.[2] As a result, official agencies have received thousands of complaints from people who have demanded an explanation.[2][3][4] The existence of chemtrails has been repeatedly denied by government agencies and scientists around the world.[5][6][7]

The United States Air Force maintains that the theory is a hoax which "has been investigated and refuted by many established and accredited universities, scientific organizations, and major media publications".[8] The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has stated that chemtrails "are not scientifically recognised phenomena".[6] The Canadian Leader of the Government in the House of Commons has stated that "The term 'chemtrails' is a popularised expression, and there is no scientific evidence to support their existence."[9]

The term chemtrail is derived from "chemical trail" in the similar fashion that contrail is an abbreviation for condensation trail. It does not refer to common forms of aerial spraying such as crop dusting, cloud seeding or aerial firefighting. The term specifically refers to aerial trails allegedly caused by the systematic high-altitude release of chemical substances not found in ordinary contrails, resulting in the appearance of supposedly uncharacteristic sky tracks. Supporters of this theory speculate that the purpose of the chemical release may be for global dimming, population control, weather control, or biological warfare/chemical warfare and claim that these trails are causing respiratory illnesses and other health problems.[2][3][10][11]

Overview

Contrails over a field

The earliest official references to upper atmospheric trails of a US-government introduced chemical date back to the 1960s concerning the release of trimethyl aluminium from rockets: "In recent years, rocket releases of TMA (trimethyl aluminum) trails were performed for upper atmosphere wind studies." [12] An early academic reference to such trails was made in 1968 in connection with Project HARP.[13] These trails have become such a well-known phenomenon that even undergraduates use TMA payloads on student-designed rockets launched by NASA for atmospheric studies.[14] [15] As mentioned on Penn State's SPIRIT II website: "Atmospheric scientists have used Trimethyl Aluminum or TMA releases for decades as a tracer element of the neutral winds of the upper atmosphere. TMA is a chemical that burns brightly when it comes into contact with oxygen--as it is released from the payload during the rocket's flight, it leaves a chemical trail behind." [16]

In 1996, a chemtrail conspiracy theory began to circulate when the United States Air Force (USAF) was accused of "spraying the US population with mysterious substances" from aircraft "generating unusual contrail patterns."[8] The Air Force says these accusations were a hoax fueled in part by citations to a strategy paper drafted within the Air Force's Air University entitled Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025.[17][18] The paper was presented in response to a military directive to outline a future strategic weather modification system for the purpose of maintaining the United States' military dominance in the year 2025, and identified as "fictional representations of future situations/scenarios."[18] The Air Force further clarified that the paper "does not reflect current military policy, practice, or capability," and that it is "not conducting any weather modification experiments or programs and has no plans to do so in the future."[8][19] Additionally, the Air Force states that the "'Chemtrail' hoax has been investigated and refuted by many established and accredited universities, scientific organizations, and major media publications."[8]

Multiple persistent contrails

In Britain, when the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was asked "what research her Department has undertaken into the polluting effects of chemtrails for aircraft," the response was that "the Department is not researching into chemtrails from aircraft as they are not scientifically recognised phenomena," but that work was being conducted to understand how contrails may affect weather now and to anticipate future impacts that could result from increases in air traffic."[6][20]

In a response to a petition by concerned Canadian citizens regarding "chemicals used in aerial sprayings are adversely affecting the health of Canadians," the Government House Leader responded by stating, "There is no substantiated evidence, scientific or otherwise, to support the allegation that there is high altitude spraying conducted in Canadian airspace. The term 'chemtrails' is a popularised expression, and there is no scientific evidence to support their existence."[9][21][22][23] The house leader goes on to say that "it is our belief that the petitioners are seeing regular airplane condensation trails, or contrails."[9]

File:X-Chem-Contrails.jpg
X-pattern contrails

Various versions of the chemtrail conspiracy theory have circulated through internet websites and radio programs.[2] In some of the accounts, the chemicals are described as barium and aluminum salts, polymer fibers, thorium, or silicon carbide.[7] In other accounts it is alleged the skies are being seeded with electrical conductive materials as part of a massive electromagnetic superweapons program based around the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP).[24] Those who believe in the conspiracy say the chemtrails are toxic,[25] but the reasons given by those who believe in the conspiracy vary widely, spanning from military weapons testing, chemical population control, to global warming mitigation measures.[3] Scientists and federal agencies have consistently denied that chemtrails exist, insisting the sky tracks are simply persistent contrails.[7] As the chemtrail conspiracy theory spread, federal officials were flooded with angry calls and letters.[7] A multi-agency response to dispel the rumors was published in a 2000 fact sheet by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a step many chemtrail believers have interpreted as further evidence of the existence of a government cover-up.[7]

Proponents of the chemtrail theory say that chemtrails can be distinguished from contrails by their long duration, asserting that the chemtrails are those skytracks that persist for as much as a half day or transform into cirrus-like clouds.[3] However, some contrails are visible for several hours according to Contrails facts, a USAF publication.[8] Air Force officials say that long lasting contrails result from certain atmospheric conditions, and their duration and rate of dissipation can be accurately predicted when humidity level and temperature are known.[8]

Contrails vs chemtrails

Condensation trails ("contrails") from propeller-driven aircraft engine exhaust, early 1940s

According to a United States Air Force contrail fact sheet, contrails, or condensation trails, are "streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes."[8] These condensation trails are the result of normal emissions of water vapor from piston engines and jet engines at high altitudes in which the water vapor condenses into a visible cloud. Contrails are formed when hot humid air from the engines mixes with the colder surrounding air. The rate at which contrails dissipate is entirely dependent on weather conditions and altitude. If the atmosphere is near saturation, the contrail may exist for some time. Conversely, if the atmosphere is dry, the contrail will dissipate quickly.[8]

Exhaust gases and emissions

Chemtrails, coming from "chemical trails" in the same fashion that contrail comes from "condensation trail" is a term coined to suggest that contrails are formed by something other than a natural process of engine exhaust hitting the cold air in the atmosphere. Chemtrail conspiracists characterize these chemical trails as streams that persist for hours, and by their criss-crossing, grid-like patterns, or parallel stripes which eventually blend to form large clouds. Proponents view the presence of visible color spectra in the streams, unusual concentrations of sky tracks in a single area, or lingering tracks left by unmarked or military airplanes flying in atypical altitudes or locations as markers of chemtrails.[2][7][11][26][27][28]

Contrail testing being carried out on an Airbus A340 and much older Boeing 707[8]

Government agencies and experts on atmospheric phenomena deny the existence of chemtrails, asserting that the characteristics attributed to them are simply features of contrails responding differently in diverse conditions in terms of the sunlight, temperature, horizontal and vertical wind shear, and humidity levels present at the aircraft's altitude.[2][7][8][11][26] Experts explain that what appears as patterns such as grids formed by contrails result from increased air traffic traveling through the gridlike United States National Airspace System's north-south and east-west oriented flight lanes, and that it is difficult for observers to judge the differences in altitudes between these contrails from the ground.[8] The jointly published fact sheet produced by NASA, the EPA, the FAA, and NOAA in 2000 in response to alarms over chemtrails details the science of contrail formation, and outlines both the known and potential impacts contrails have on temperature and climate.[29] The USAF produced a fact sheet as well that described these contrail phenomena as observed and analyzed since at least 1953. It also rebutted chemtrail theories more directly by identifying the theories as a hoax and denying the existence of chemtrails.[7][8]

Wingtip condensation trails

Patrick Minnis, an atmospheric scientist with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is quoted in USA Today as saying that logic is not exactly a real selling point for most chemtrail proponents: "If you try to pin these people down and refute things, it's, 'Well, you're just part of the conspiracy'," he said.[2]

In 2001, United States Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced legislation that would have permanently prohibited the basing of weapons in space, and he listed chemtrails as one of a number of exotic weapons that would be banned.[30] Proponents have asserted that because explicit reference to chemtrails was entered by Congressman Kucinich into the congressional record, this constitutes official government acknowledgement of their existence.[26][31] That bill received an unfavorable evaluation from the United States Department of Defense and died in committee,[32] with no mention of chemtrails appearing in the text of any of the three subsequent failed attempts by Kucinich to enact a Space Preservation Act.

See also

References

  1. ^ Theroux, Michael. "CONTRAILS: Scientific Studies Regarding Aircraft Contrails and Cloud Formation". Borderland Sciences. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Watson, Traci (2001-03-07). "Conspiracy theories find menace in contrails". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-25. The theory: The white lines of condensed water vapor that jets leave in the sky, called contrails, are actually a toxic substance the government deliberately sprays on an unsuspecting populace.
  3. ^ a b c d Unkefer, Charlie (Wed Mar 04, 2009, 05:39 PM PST). "Citizen concern lingers over aluminum in water". Mount Shasta Area Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-03-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ See:
  5. ^ See:
  6. ^ a b c "ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Advisory Committee on Pesticides:Aircraft Pollution". Publications and Records:Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers:Column 315W:[24397]. United Kingdom Parliament. 8 Nov 2005 : Column 315W. Retrieved 2009-03-12. Mr. Morley: The Department is not researching into chemtrails from aircraft as they are not scientifically recognised phenomena. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Downing, Bob (2002-03-16). "Conspiracy theorists look up: Some argue jet contrails are U.S. chemical spray". Beacon Journal News. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Contrails Facts" (PDF). AFD-051013-001. Air Force. 2005-10-13. Retrieved 2009-04-11. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  9. ^ a b c "A Petition to the Canadian House of Commons: The Government's Response". Response. http://www.holmestead.ca. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ See:
  11. ^ a b c Schlatter, Thomas (2001-03-09). "Weather Queries: Chemtrail Controversy". Weatherwise.
  12. ^ Harang, Ove. "AlO Resonant Spectrum for Upper Atmosphere Temperature Determination". Office of Aerospace Research, USAF. May 1966. Retrieved 10 Nov 2010.
  13. ^ Murphy, Charles; Bull, Gerald. "AEROSPACE APPLICATION OF GUN LAUNCHED PROJECTILES AND ROCKETS". McGill University Space Research Institute. Feb 1968. Retrieved 10 Nov 2010.
  14. ^ "SPIRIT History". Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 18 Oct 2010.
  15. ^ "NASA to launch student-built rocket in May". Intercom Online 18 February 1999. Retrieved 12 Nov 2010.
  16. ^ "SPIRIT II's Trimethyl Aluminum Release Experiment". Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 2 Nov 2010.
  17. ^ "http://www.af.mil/environment/contrails_chemtrail.shtml". Air Force. Archived from [The "Chemtrail" Hoax the original] on 2002-12-02. Retrieved 2010-05-07. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); External link in |title= (help)
  18. ^ a b "Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025". Fas.org. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  19. ^ "EPA Aircraft Contrails Factsheet" (PDF). Air and Radiation (6205J):EPA430-F-00-005. United States Environmental Protection Agency. September 2000. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
  20. ^ "Aviation and the Global Atmosphere". Special Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 1999. p. 17. Retrieved 2009-04-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "37th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 110 CONTENTS". Publications:Debates:-Committees of the House:Petitions:The Environment 1030. Parliament of Canada. Tuesday, June 3, 2003. Retrieved 2009-04-13. Mr. John Herron (Fundy—Royal, PC): Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition on behalf of Mr. Brian Holmes of Ontario regarding aerial spraying. Mr. Holmes has collected signatures from across the country from concerned Canadians who believe that chemicals used in aerial sprayings are adversely affecting the health of Canadians.The petitioners call upon Parliament to stop this type of high altitude spraying. The petition has been duly certified by the clerk and I present it at this time. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Points to Ponder: Access to Information Act". Chemtrails - spraying in our sky. http://www.holmestead.ca/. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ "A Petition to the Canadian House of Commons". Chemtrails - spraying in our sky. http://www.holmestead.ca/. Retrieved 2009-04-13. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Hodapp, Christopher; von Kannon, Alice (2008). "Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies for Dummies".
  25. ^ Perlingieri, Ilya (February 11, 2009). "The Worldwide Environmental Crisis Gone Missing: The Precautionary Principle". Global Research. Retrieved 2009-03-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b c Thomas, William (Summer 2002). "Stolen Skies: The Chemtrail Mystery". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  27. ^ Hamilton, Dan (April 7, 2009). "Contrails vs. Chemtrails". Fox12 news at nine. Fox12 Idaho KTRV-TV. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  28. ^ Ferrell, Jeff (December 21, 2007). "CHEMTRAILS: Is U.S. Gov't. Secretly Testing Americans 'Again'?". SHREVEPORT, LA. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  29. ^ "Aircraft Contrails Factsheet" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2000-09. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |publication-date= (help)
  30. ^ "Space Preservation Act of 2001". Thomas.loc.gov. 2001-10-02. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  31. ^ Bethel, Brian (2008-7-1). "Abilene man wants to warn you about the dangers of 'chemtrails'". Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved 2008-10-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |publication-date= (help)
  32. ^ "H.R.2977, The Library of Congress". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved 2009-07-24.

Further reading

External links

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