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NEXRAD HOAX FAQ
Since about 1998, there have been theories floating around the Internet and
on late-night conspiracy talk shows that
radar anomalies visible on NEXRAD imagery and
radar images provided by other providers (WeatherTap, AccuWeather, etc.) are
proof of exotic military programs or conspiracies. These theories talk about
HAARP being used by the military to modify the weather and cause earthquakes
and that the energy is transmitted via the atmosphere. The NEXRAD images get
mixed up into this theory because they, supposedly, show the electricity in
the atmosphere.
This page will address some questions raised by some of these "wild theories"
and some of the questions that readers may have about those theories.
If you're interested in seeing some of the specific claims of one of the believers
of these theories, click here. I
tried to debate him and while I wasn't able to get much additional information
on his opinion of radar anomalies, his other comments and beliefs are quite
revealing.
- Are these theories true?
In a word, no.
- Is it true that the Department of Defense is involved in NEXRAD?
Yes. The NEXRAD network was developed and funded by the Department of
Commerce, the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
and the Department of Defense. (Source)
- Is NEXRAD a military program?
No. As mentioned in the previous question NEXRAD was partly funded and continues
to be maintained, in part, by the Department of Defense. However, the NEXRAD network
is operated and maintained by the "Radar Operations Center" (ROC,
see previous link) which includes employees from each of the previously mentioned
agencies as well as external contractors. It is unreasonable to believe that the
military would implement a secret, covert operation using NEXRAD sites that are jointly
maintained by civilian agencies and many of which are located at relatively unsecure
locations with no military protection whatsoever.
- Can NEXRAD control the weather?
No. NEXRAD sites are simply advanced radar that transmits a radio frequency wave into
the atmosphere and waits to "hear" a radio frequency echo. There is no reason to
believe, nor is there evidence to suggest, that NEXRAD sites can control the weather.
- Are NEXRAD sites "electrifying" the atmosphere?
No. Certainly no more than your local radio stations. NEXRAD stations transmit bursts
of 750kwatts for 7 seconds of every hour. (Source)
and there are a total of 140 of them for a total of 105,000kwatts for 7 seconds every hour. Considering that they only
transmit for 7 seconds (0.19%) each hour, the effective amount of energy transmitted into the
atmosphereic is 105,000 * 0.0019 = 199.5 kilowatts. Now, consider that the average cell phone
transmits about 3 watts and
that there are 180 million cell
phones in use in the U.S. alone and even if we assume that only 1% (1.8 million) of them are
in use at any given time, that still is 5,400 kilowatts--over 27 times the amount of energy
transmitted each hour by NEXRAD. Also consider that
this radio station is transmitting
at 50 kilowatts watts and that there are hundreds of other similarly-powered stations around the country
and world--it only takes 4 of them to equal the amount of power transmitted into the atmosphere
by NEXRAD. A single bolt of lightning contains
billions
of watts of energy, and there are a 100
lightning strikes per second worldwide. To suggest that
NEXRAD contributes any significant energy to the atmosphere is absurd.
- Are NEXRAD sites "channeling" energy from Alaska through the Continental U.S.
No. There is no evidence, nor any reason to believe, that NEXRAD sites are capable
of channeling anything. They are radars controlled by civilian agencies to detect
weather conditions, nothing more.
- I read on a website something that contradicts what you said above. They
said that NEXRAD can control the weather. Who is right?
Sites that suggest NEXRAD can control the weather generally are sites that also
believe that contrails in the sky are actually chemicals being dispersed by the
government, they believe that HAARP can cause earthquakes, and believe NEXRAD
and HAARP together, in addition to controlling the weather, form a missile
defense shield (SDI). Many of them also believe that 9/11 was a government plot
to give us an excuse to invade other countries and that "free energy" exists but
the oil companies aren't letting the technology reach the public. Some also
believe you can dissipate clouds and contrails by reciting New Age-style
meditations and believe that there are people who appear on the Art Bell talk
show that have invented devices that violate the laws of Physics yet have
only been heard of on that program. Many still believe in "Cold Fusion" which
was effectively rejected by physicsts worldwide back in 1989. A large number of
them also sell books and videos professing any combination of the above beliefs.
The believers that frequent these sites will admonish you for being "close-minded"
when, in reality, you will not find a group of people with minds more closed than
theirs. They have built their own reality and outsiders are generally treated
with suspicion until they profess to believe what the rest of them believe. Anyone
who dares question their beliefs is quickly labeled close-minded, a trouble-maker,
a "debunker," a government stooge, or a necon. You are expected to question the
government and your understanding of physics, but questioning them is not
welcome and will generally result in you getting flamed rather than getting a
coherent answer.
In short, the sites that suggest that NEXRAD can control the weather suggest a lot
of other things that most people would agree are science fiction or material for the
next Oliver Stone movie. Their "evidence" is mostly circumstantial and primarily based
on speculation, not sound science, and their motives run from "paranoid" to
"profit-taking" as they sell their conspiracy wares online.
To believe what these sites proclaim about NEXRAD you essentially have to buy into a
whole belief system that contradicts just about everything you learned in school
and adopt a whole "they're out to get you" mentality where the government is pure
evil and anyone that disputes their beliefs has been hired by the government to
mess with them.
- Can you prove that you weren't lied to by government employees and that the
hoax theory is actually true and they're just engaging in deception and misinformation?
This is a silly question. This is like asking a husband "Have you stopped beating your
wife, yes or no?" If he says yes then you can conclude that he used to beat his wife, and
if he says no then you can conclude that he still does. It's a fool's question and only
would be asked by a fool.
Of course it can't be proven that what the hoax says isn't true. That's the beauty of
most conspiracy theories: they can't be disproven because the nature of the theory
itself is that the conspiracy is supposedly top-secret and that everyone who might know
something about it can and will lie and provide disinformation. Any "proof" (such as expert
statements stating that a theory is not true or a radar anomaly is benign) will immediately
be disqualified by the conspiracy theorist as being untrustworthy. The theories are cooked
up in someone's imagination and aren't supported by any facts to start with. But conspiracy
theorists will then use the lack of evidence either for or against the conspiracy as evidence
of a cover-up. There's really no winning a debate like this with a conspiracy theorist.
What we can do--and have done on this site--is demonstrate that there is a very rational,
down-to-earth explanation for the radar anomalies that have
been observed. We can analyze and study radar anomalies at
Billings, Reno, and
North Platte and provide technical information based on experts
and public technical information that more than adequately explains the anomalies.
The logical, educated adult will then be able to balance the lack of evidence the supports
the NEXRAD hoax theory and the evidence provided here that provides a rational and adequate
explanation of the anomalies and come to a reasonable conclusion on his or her own.
- Do you think you will convince any hoax believers that it really is a hoax?
Probably not. As already mentioned, they tend to believe this stuff with an almost
religious fanaticism. They've ignored facts, the truth, and reality long enough that this
site is most probably not going to phase them. In fact, I've seen them actually get upset
when I've used the word "truth," almost as if they're afraid of it.
I hope, however, to reach those that might
have just heard about the hoax and are doing some web-surfing to reach an educated
conclusion on whether or not the hoax is true. These are the people I hope to reach
here: Those that are actually looking for the truth rather than those that have a preconceived
notion about it.
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