Louisiana House Approves Bill Countering Alleged Weather Manipulation through 'Chemtrails'
Tinfoil Hats and Weather Modification: The Latest Louisiana Bill
Between tinfoil hats and weather manipulation conspiracies, Louisiana lawmakers are taking a stand. Last week, the House passed a bill aimed at banning "chemtrails" in the state. Let's break it down - those white lines in the sky right after an aircraft flies by? People have been speculating about them for years, with a belief they could be chemicals released intentionally for potentially nefarious purposes.
The bill, popularly known as Senate Bill 46, aims to stop these alleged activities. It prohibits the intentional release of chemicals to alter weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight. As of now, no fines are associated with the ban, but it requires the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to record and report chemtrail sightings to the state's Air National Guard.
Rep. Kimberly Landry Coates defended the bill, sharing concerns about multiple groups and contractors involved in the conspiracy. When questioned by Rep. Candace Newell about evidence backing up her claims, Coates mentioned "Barium" and other hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
However, it's essential to clear up the confusion: chemtrails are nothing but common contrails. A 2016 survey of leading atmospheric scientists flat-out rejected the existence of a secret spraying program. Instead, contrails occur when emissions from aircraft engines interact with water vapor at high altitudes, much like our breath in cold weather.
The chemtrail myth has persisted for decades, with conservative followers lending it credibility recently. In 2021, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tweeted about a "chemtrail pilot whistleblower," promising to stop this supposed crime. During an interview with Dr. Phil, Kennedy deflected the conversation towards other agencies and vowed to combat chemtrails.
This legislation is not unique. Lawmakers in Florida, Pennsylvania, and other states have also introduced bills targeting chemicals and geoengineering. Such laws could potentially hinder climate change solutions. Coates accused the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of manipulating weather by reflecting sunlight and cooling the Earth through chemicals sprayed into clouds.
"Far-fetched ideas without scientific backing are being promoted as fact, often with minimal media scrutiny," Mark Shanahan, professor at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, told Newsweek. "With the president setting the tone, this disconnect from reality is expected to persist."
SB46 passed Louisiana's House with a vote of 58-32. Whether it's a case of misguided concern or a lack of understanding of atmospheric science remains to be seen.
By the Way, What Are Contrails, Really?
Contrails, short for condensation trails, happen when hot exhaust gases from an aircraft engine mix with cold air in the atmosphere. This mixture causes water vapor in the exhaust to condense into small water droplets or ice crystals, resulting in a visible trail behind the aircraft. The prerequisites for contrail formation are high altitude, low temperatures, and sufficient moisture in the air.
The persistent nature of some contrails can sometimes make people believe that additional substances must be present to prolong their visibility. However, the actual cause is atmospheric factors like humidity and temperature. There's no scientific evidence to support the idea that contrails contain chemicals or biological agents beyond normal exhaust gases.
- Senate Bill 46, which passed in Louisiana's House, is aimed at banning the intentional release of chemicals to alter weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight, often claimed in chemtrail conspiracy theories.
- The bill prohibits such activities, but notably, no fines are associated with the ban, as of now.
- However, it's important to note that contrails, often mistaken for chemtrails, are simply condensation trails caused by the mixing of hot exhaust gases from aircraft engines with cold air in the atmosphere.
- Despite the prevalence of chemtrail myths, a 2016 survey of leading atmospheric scientists dismissed the existence of a secret spraying program, stating that contrails occur naturally and are not used for nefarious purposes.
- The persistence of chemtrail conspiracy theories has led to legislation in other states, such as Florida and Pennsylvania, targeting chemicals and geoengineering, which some argue could hinder climate change solutions and represent a disconnect from reality.
