The Propagation
Corner

Chemtrails: True Or False?

by Tomas Hood, NW7US

Figure 1. Creating an ionospheric mirror using
high-powered microwave beams.

While tuning around on the AM broadcast band one night, I came across a popular program that airs from sea to sea across the United States. (Why is it that you hear the same program on station after station as you tune from one end of the MW band to the other? Where’s the diversity and creativity once found on broadcast radio?). The guest on the show was a self-proclaimed expert expounding upon a secret military and/or governmental project that allegedly creates “chemtrails.” “Contrails” are the familiar vapor trails left by aircraft as they pass through high humidity and cold temperatures. The term, “chemtrail,” on the other hand, refers to alleged manmade controlled spraying of some chemical substance by aircraft, at high altitudes.

This fellow was explaining a theory that military aircraft spray a metal-based cloud trail in an effort to either change the weather, or to mask military targets with some form of cloud cover. He made claims that these “dustings” are made up of aluminum, barium, or other metals that might absorb microwave radiation.

This sounds a bit conspiratorial. While the radio show focused on the health and ethical issues of such activity, I wondered about the science involved. If such metallic clouds are being created by the military, what are the repercussions on the propagation of radio signals? Why would they deploy such cloud covers? Is it really possible that the government would engage in activities that would manipulate the environment and atmosphere?

I recall reading an old issue of CQ magazine in which George Jacobs reports on three nuclear blasts in the atmosphere which caused man-made aurora and a significant change in the geomagnetic and ionospheric conditions for several days (see CQ, June 1959, “Propagation,” page 82). Perhaps the government really is working on some strategic program that includes activity causing these chemtrails.
I decided to research the Internet to find proof and purpose of such activity. My initial navigation through the many webpages focusing on chemtrails proved frustrating. Nearly all the sites I explored were fine examples of sensational, alarmist rumor mill. What amazes me is that many of those websites quoted each other (without attributing the source), yet never actually revealed credible sources. There were many photos offered as “proof.” Most looked like normal contrail activity. Others looked like hoaxes. There is a wealth of anecdotal evidence, but, again, without direct attribution to credible sources and reliable documentation. I began to doubt the validity of the whole idea that the government was involved in some secret project that included spraying our skies.

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