Chemtrails

From SkepticWiki

1 Definition
2 About Contrails
3 About Chemtrails
4 Chemtrail culture
5 Skeptical Responses
6 Fighting Chemtrails
7 Chemtrail Web Sites
8 References

[edit] Definition

Chemtrails are a name in some circles for what are commonly known as contrails, white linear cloud-like formations that occur behind high-altitude aircraft. The term “chemtrails” refers to supposed covert illegal spraying of harmful chemicals by the government or by groups associated with grand conspiracies. The term is generally understood to exclude similar overt activities such as cropdusting, firefighting, and chemical warfare.

Some adherents to this idea will admit the usual explanation for contrails, but claim that chemtrails are different. According to some, "contrails" will evaporate quickly, whereas "chemtrails" linger and spread over the entire sky.[1]

[edit] About Contrails

Contrails are formed when hot high-pressure jet exhaust gases mix with rarefied cool air. In a process similar to cloud formation, the water present in the jet exhaust freezes quickly, forming a white haze. Since this process generally completes several hundred feet behind the aircraft, passengers on commercial airliners typically do not see contrails forming, giving weight to the claim that “chemtrails” only come from special military aircraft.

Note that Contrails are different than the greyish ‘vapour trails’ sometimes seen when flying low with flaps extended. These are formed of liquid water from compression of moist air under the wing.

On days when cirrus cloud formation is occurring, there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere, and consequently, contrails may linger longer before evaporating. Since cirrus clouds often precede a general overcast or haze, the casual observer could easily assume that the contrails or chemtrails have caused the overcast or become the overcast.

In the event that an aircraft is flying directly away from the setting or rising sun, the contrail may cause a spectacular crepuscular ray, known in chemtrail jargon as the black ray, which has a sinister appearance, even to the more skeptically-minded. Photos of the “black ray”: [2][3]

[edit] About Chemtrails

The supposed purpose of the chemtrail campaign is admittedly unknown, but speculation includes:

sterilization for genocide or population control
administration of drugs for mind-control or pacification
suppression of human evolution
various activities associated with grand conspiracy theories.

The alleged composition of chemtrails varies from application to application. According to the website of chemtrail expert Clifford Carnicom [4], they may contain barium, calcium, magnesium, titanium, metallic salts, and microscopic fibers. Another site claims they are composed of “an oil based substance of unknown content” and “unknown biological components”[5].

The alleged effects of chemtrails are incredibly varied. A claim of increase in respiratory diseases is common. Weather alteration is often mentioned. In chemtrail site forums nearly every unexplained headache or car-windshield spot is attributed to chemtrails.

[edit] Chemtrail culture

Chemtrails have been a featured topic on several airings of the Art Bell's Coast to Coast AM radio show, known for uncritical presentation of extraordinary claims. Chemtrails were mentioned in House Bill HR2977[6], which banned various types of weapons in space. The reference to chemtrails was eventually removed, but the original inclusion is cited as evidence that they are a real phenomenon. There are several websites devoted to news and discussion of chemtrails.

[edit] Skeptical Responses

Assuming that a reasoned response is necessary to arguments that we ought to fear clouds, the following may address some of the basic assumptions of the chemtrail theory.

The very existence of the Grand Conspiracy required to administer chemtrails may be challenged on the basis of the difficulty of maintaining such a conspiracy for so long. See Conspiracy Theories for more on this objection.
Aerial spraying from high-altitude would be an extremely inefficient and inexact mode of delivering chemicals to ground-based targets. Pesticides, for example, are often sprayed on crops from airplanes flying at thirty feet. Wide-area mosquito spraying may be done from an altitude of 150 feet. Chemtrails are supposedly deposited at 30,000 feet or higher, where winds would likely disperse them unpredictably.
If there were a campaign to introduce foreign chemicals to the population, it would be simpler and more effective to put them in the water supply, or the food supply; or if inhalation were necessary, to release them from ground-based vehicles.
All the observable characteristics of chemtrails are explained by supposing them to be contrails formed of water.

Claims that specific chemtrail activity is causing specific effects can almost always be attributed to the Incorrect Cause fallacy.

Finally, note that the sky is full of wonderful and bizarre phenomena, such as rainbows and sun-dogs, noctilucent clouds and ball lightning, and we can appreciate this all the more by understanding the underlying mechanisms, without having to assume that fearsome monsters are responsible.

[edit] Fighting Chemtrails

Websites devoted to raising awareness of chemtrails have failed to ignite the indignation of the masses to the extent that the chemtrails have stopped. So (in typical grand conspiracy fashion) the chemtrail believers claim that the powers that be, rather than revealing their evil purpose by overtly suppressing this knowledge, are covertly suppressing it by recruiting their agents in science and the media to ridicule it as bizarre, kooky and unbelievable.

Awareness-raising efforts having so far proven ineffective, the pseudoscientific practice of Cloudbusting using orgone energy has now been brought to bear on the problem of chemtrails [7].