Chemtrail theory

The chemtrail theory is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon involving certain trails visible in the sky behind high-altitude aircraft. Such trails are usually referred to as contrails and ascribed to condensation of water vapor in the aircraft exhaust. Most people believe that the "chemtrails" are no different from ordinary contrails. However, some maintain that these trails have an appearance different from those of water-based contrails, and are not consistent with the known properties of contrails. They believe that these trails indicate some kind of chemical spray.

The term "chemtrail" should not be confused with other forms of aerial dumping (e.g. crop dusting, cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, or with the use of smoke trails at air shows); it specifically refers to covert, systematic, high-altitude dumping of chemicals, generally for some illicit purpose as part of a vast conspiracy.

Possible conspiratorial explanations include atmospheric and weather modification, biological warfare, mind control, or purposes associated with a New World Order.

The chemtrail theory is relatively new, apparently first achieving prominence in mid-to-late 1990s ([1] (http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/conspire.html), [2] (http://www.navarrone.com/contrails/chemtrails1.html)).

Chemtrails have been discussed on talk-radio programs hosted by Art Bell and Jeff Rense, who frequently deal with other paranormal and conspiratorial topics. According to a FAQ (http://www.rense.com/general4/fre.htm) posted at the Rense website (http://www.rense.com), "chemtrails (CTs) look like contrails initially, but are much thicker, extend across the sky and are often laid down in varying patterns of Xs, tick-tack-toe grids, cross-hatched and parallel lines. Instead of quickly dissipating, chemtrails expand and drip feathers and mares' tails. In 30 minutes or less, they open into wispy formations which join together, forming a thin white veil or a 'fake cirrus-type cloud' that persists for hours."

Little has been said as to what the specific chemicals in chemtrails might be, beyond ominous speculation. However, one chemtrail advocate, Clifford E. Carnicom, operator of a website entitled "Aerosol Crimes and Cover-ups," [3] (http://www.carnicom.com/contrails.htm) claims to have analyzed ground-level air samples following chemtrail events. It is not clear what his experience or expertise in chemical analysis is, but he carefully details the methods and procedures he used. He claims to have found airborne aluminum, barium, calcium, magnesium and titanium, and "microscopic fibers" in areas supposedly exposed to chemtrails.

"Chemtrails" are mentioned in House Bill HR 2977 (http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2001/hr2977.html), the Space Preservation Act of 2001, introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich, where it appears as one of a list of "exotic weapons system" to be banned under the bill. Proponents of the reality of chemtrails point to this as official acknowledgment of the possibility, at least, of such weapons system. "Chemtrails" are not mentioned in the version of the bill re-introduced by Kucinich in 2002 as HR 3616 (http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2002/hr3616.html) or in 2003 as HR 3657 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:2:./temp/~c108T7GfbK).

Contents

1 Skeptical response 2 See also 3 External links 3.1 Conspiracy links 3.2 Skeptical links

Skeptical response

Skeptical groups, including the CSICOP, assert that contrails normally exhibit a wide variation in appearance and that the descriptions and photographs of "chemtrails" are perfectly consistent with those of ordinary contrails ([4] (http://www.nmsr.org/pilotsvu.htm), [5] (http://iangoddard.net/contrail.htm)). They also voice various objections to the idea of chemtrails, as outlined below.

• If there were any truth to the theory it would require a massive and total cover-up operation involving hundreds of thousands of aviation employees, service businesses, airlines and/or military personnel all over the world, which seems incredibly unlikely.
• Releasing a thin cloud of spray above 30,000 feet (over five miles above sea level) is likely to be highly ineffective, due to high-altitude winds unpredictably dispersing any hypothetical spray over a massive area, at extremely low concentration ([6] (http://www.navarrone.com/contrails/chemtrails1.html)).
• Depositing chemtrails would surely be extremely expensive and inefficient. (Why not just drug the water supply, for instance, for a fraction of the cost?)
• Some aircraft accused of depositing "chemtrails" may be identified and inspected, and clearly do not contain special spraying apparatus or spray storage tanks as would be expected.
• Official and governmental bodies have consistently denied the existence of such spraying (e.g. [7] (http://www.carnicom.com/taylor1.htm), [8] (http://www.carnicom.com/af1.htm)) — although for many conspiracy theorists, these denials only serve to confirm the existence of a conspiracy.

See also

• Critical thinking
• Conspiracy theory
• List of alleged conspiracy theories
• Skepticism

External links

Conspiracy links

• Chemtrail FAQ from Rense website (http://www.rense.com/general4/fre.htm) — conspiracy FAQ attributed to the organization "Blue Skies International"
• "Chemtrail Central" (http://www.chemtrailcentral.com) — conspiracy site
• "Aerosol Crimes and Cover-ups" (http://www.carnicom.com/contrails.htm) — conspiracy site
• "The Smoking Gun" (http://www.lightwatcher.com/chemtrails/smoking_gun.html) — conspiracy site with "proof of global geoengineering projects"

Skeptical links

• New Mexicans for Science and Reason (http://www.nmsr.org/chemtrls.htm) — a chemtrail debunking page
• Iangoddard.net (http://iangoddard.net/contrail.htm) — in-depth scientific analysis
• Crank.net (http://www.crank.net/chemtrails.html) — skeptical website listing chemtrail resourcesde:Chemtrail