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Chemtrail conspiracy theory

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

The Chemtrail conspiracy theory holds that the trails seen behind some aircraft are not ordinary contrails, but are the result of high-altitude spraying of some kind of chemicals or biological agents for a purpose undisclosed to the general public. Versions of the conspiracy theory circulating on the internet and on radio talk shows hold that these trails contain toxic substances deliberately sprayed from flying aircraft into the atmosphere, and that this activity is directed by government officials. The many versions of circulating rumors allege that various chemical or biological compositions and purposes are behind the aerial sprayings, but there is no evidence that these trails are anything but normal aircraft contrails consisting of water vapor and ice crystals. Federal agencies have received thousands of complaints from people who have demanded an explanation.[1] Officials from four agencies in the United States jointly published a fact sheet to refute the rumors and to explain the science of contrail formation.[1]

The term "chemtrail" does not refer to common forms of aerial spraying (e.g., 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. Believers of this theory speculate that the purpose of the chemical release may be global dimming or population control, and claim that these trails are causing respiratory illnesses and other health problems.[1][2]

Overview

The chemtrail conspiracy theory began to circulate in 1996 when the United States Air Force (USAF) was accused of releasing unknown substances from aircraft which were creating unusual contrails. The Air Force characterizes the accusations as a "hoax" fueled in part by authors citing an Air University strategy paper entitled Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025[3] to allege the Air Force was currently conducting a secret government program to modify the weather. The paper was presented in response to a military directive to anticipate future developments and strategies for maintaining the United States' military dominance in the year 2025 and identified as "fictional representations of future situations/scenarios".[3] The Air Force denies it is actually conducting such experiments or that such experiments are planned, and points to the refutations presented by accredited universities, scientific organizations and major news organizations as further evidence the chemtrails do not exist.[4]

Various versions of chemtrail conspiracy theory have circulated through internet websites and talk radio programs.[1] In some of the accounts, the chemicals are described as barium and aluminum salts, polymer fibers, thorium, or silicon carbide.[5] In other accounts its 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).[6] The reasons given by those who believe in the conspiracy vary widely as well between military weapons testing, chemical population control, or measures to mitigate global warming. Federal agencies and scientists have consistently denied these claims, insisting the sky tracks are simple contrails. As the chemtrail conspiracy theory spread, federal officials were flooded with angry calls and letters.[5] 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 interpeted as further evidence of the existence of a government cover-up.[5]

In 2001, United States Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced legislation that would have permanently prohibited the basing of weapons in space, and chemtrails were listed as one of a number of exotic weapons that would be banned.[7] The bill received an unfavorable evaluation from the United States Department of Defense and died in committee.[8] No mention of chemtrails appeared in the text of any of the three subsequent failed attempts by Kucinich to enact a Space Preservation Act.

Contrails and chemtrails

File:Chemtrailsoverfield.jpg
Dense cloudy trails over a field.
Wide cloudy trails illuminated by London sunset

Chemtrail believers differentiate chemtrails from contrails by describing them as streams that sometimes persist in the sky for hours, and which sometimes trace criss-crossing grid-like patterns or parallel stripes which eventually blend to form large chemical clouds. Another feature that believers say distinguishes a chemtrail from a contrail is the presence of visible color prisms in the streams. Other features often associated with chemtrails are unusual concentrations of sky tracks in a single area, and lingering tracks left by unmarked or military airplanes flying in atypical altitudes or locations.[1][5][2][9]

Government agencies and other experts on contrail or atmospheric phenomena deny the existence of chemtrails, insisting 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.[1][5][2][9][4] These experts respond 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.[4] 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.[10] The USAF produced a fact sheet as well that described these contrail phenomena as observed and analyzed since at least 1953. It also rebutted chemtrails theories more directly by characterizing the theories as a hoax and denying the existence of any chemtrails.[5][4] Believers reject these explanations and assert the specific reference to chemtrails in the text of the initial Space Preservation Act submitted in 2001 by United States Congressman Kucinich was tantamount to an official government admission acknowledging their existence.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Watson, Traci (2001-03-07), "Conspiracy theories find menace in contrails", USA Today, retrieved 2008-08-25
  2. ^ a b c Schlatter, Thomas (2001-03-09), "Weather Queries: Chemtrail Controversy", Weatherwise
  3. ^ a b Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025 (webarchive)
  4. ^ a b c d Contrails Facts (PDF), United States Air Force {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |publisher-link= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f 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
  6. ^ Hodapp, Christopher; Kannon, Alice Von (2008), Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies for Dummies, For Dummies, ISBN 9780470184080
  7. ^ Space Preservation Act of 2001
  8. ^ H.R.2977, The Library of Congress
  9. ^ a b c Thomas, William (Summer 2002), ""Stolen Skies: The Chemtrail Mystery", Earth Island Journal, retrieved 2008-08-30
  10. ^ "Aircraft Contrails Factsheet" (PDF), Unites States Environmental Protection Agency, 2000-09, retrieved 2008-08-30 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |publication-date= (help)

Further reading

  • Thomas, William, "Stolen Skies: The Chemtrail Mystery", Earth Island Journal, July 1, 2002
  • Smith, Jerry E, "Weather Warfare: The Military's Plan To Draft Mother Nature", Adventures Unlimited Press, December 30, 2006
  • Dahl, Dave, "Contrails, Chemtrails and Artificial Clouds", AC Press, July, 2007
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