Clearing the air: The myth of 'chemtrails' in Europe

Eurovision News Spotlight

Chemtrails refer to a well-known conspiracy theory that claims certain aircraft are intentionally releasing harmful chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for various nefarious purposes. However, it is important to note that this theory is not supported by scientific evidence and is considered a baseless conspiracy.

Scientific studies and government agencies around the world have extensively researched and debunked the chemtrails conspiracy theory. The scientific consensus overwhelmingly supports the understanding that contrails are composed of primarily ice crystals and do not pose a threat to human health or the environment.

“According to myriad conspiracy theories, some of those "harmless" vapours are instead sinister "chemtrails." … Some say the cloudy lines are part of government weather-controlling experiments; others say that they're a form of germ warfare.” - Benjamin Radford, managing editor of Skeptical Inquirer

The debunked theory, which has been around since the 1990s has once again resurfaced on Spanish social media platforms. 

Social media users, influencers, and even some politicians have all weighed in on the subject that has become a national debate over the perils of denying science.

Despite assurances by aviation experts that the so-called chemtrails do not exist, Spain's Prosecutor's Office has recently received an increased number of complaints from citizens, calling on the body to investigate the alleged phenomenon.

Only in Madrid, authorities said they have received some 40 complaints regarding the alleged chemtrails in recent weeks. 

Meanwhile, employees of Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) have received threats via Twitter, email, and phone calls, being accused of covering up the alleged spraying of chemical substances above cities, also known as geo-engineering aimed at spurring climate change.

Some social media users claim that AEMET has publicly acknowledged that it is modifying the climate. The institution says it has made no such claims.

Conspiracy theorists were referring to a blog post published by AEMET in which the artificial modification of weather and cloud seeding was explained as part of international efforts to increase rainfall in certain dry and disadvantaged regions.

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In Germany, the Spanish discussion around chemtrails had an effect on the way German conspiracy theorists discussed the topic. In mid-April, when the discussion in Spain started, the misinterpreted article of AEMET was used in German Telegram groups as proof of its existence. Lea Frühwirth at the Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS), who analysed Telegram posts on chemtrails and weather manipulation in the past weeks, confirms that there was a peak in Telegram posts on chemtrails from April 14 to 16, 2023, with posts referring to AEMET garnering up to 324.900 views.

A couple of weeks later, on May 11, 2023, a politician with the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) filed a brief inquiry at the state parliament of Saxony on the existence of chemtrails - a strategy the party used before, staging themselves as “objective observers” and thus pushing conspiracy theories, as German fact-checker “Volksverpetzer” summarizes in an article published on May 14, 2023. (link in sources)

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In Belgium, similar images of aircraft trails in the sky also sparked speculation amongst social media users on Instagram who used the chemtrails hashtag to discuss the conspiracy theory. In April 2023, searching the keyword "Chemtrails" from Belgium was at its peak on Google. Meanwhile, recent social media trends indicate that a part of society believes that clouds generated in the sky by airplanes were the result of "chemicals deliberately spread for reasons kept secret".

The ongoing social media discussions have been addressed in an article by RTBF (Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française). Using journalistic and scientific sources, including a report by the NGO Greenpeace, RTBF highlighted that there was no factual evidence to show the existence of chemical spills on the population and that the theory is unfounded.

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Contrails

Contrails, short for "condensation trails," are the visible white streaks or lines that form behind aircraft as they fly at high altitudes. They are composed of water vapour and ice crystals, which are created when hot engine exhaust gases mix with extremely cold temperatures in the upper atmosphere.

“Airplane contrails have probably gotten more than their fair share of attention over the years. In particular, they've provided consistent fodder for conspiracy theorists convinced that condensation trails are actually "chemtrails" resulting from secret government chemical spraying programs.” - Earth Island Journal

Contrails can vary in length, thickness, and persistence depending on atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, and wind patterns. In some cases, contrails may dissipate quickly, particularly in drier atmospheric conditions, while in others, they can persist and spread, forming broader cloud-like structures known as contrail cirrus.

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Sources

BENJAMIN RADFORD (2009). SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. [online] Available at: https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2009/03/22164444/p25.pdf [Accessed 15 May 2023].

Earth Island Journal. (2019). Talking Points: Autumn 2019. [online] Available at: https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/magazine/entry/talking-points-autumn-2019/ [Accessed 18 May 2023].

Greenpeace France. (2023). Quelle est la position de Greenpeace sur les chemtrails ? [online] Available at: https://www.greenpeace.fr/quelle-est-la-position-de-greenpeace-sur-les-chemtrails/ [Accessed 19 May 2023].

Grégoire Ryckmans (2021). ‘Chemtrails’ : Non, ces traces d’avions ne sont pas provoquées par des épandages de produits chimiques. [online] RTBF. Available at: https://www.rtbf.be/article/chemtrails-non-ces-traces-davions-ne-sont-pas-provoquees-par-des-epandages-de-produits-chimiques-10733400 [Accessed 19 May 2023].

Laschyk, T. (2023). Aluhut-AfD glaubt jetzt auch noch an Chemtrails?! [online] Volksverpetzer. Available at: https://www.volksverpetzer.de/aktuelles/aluhut-afd-glaubt-jetzt-auch-noch-an-chemtrails/ [Accessed 15 May 2023].

VerificaRTVE. “Estelas Químicas O Chemtrails: Una Falsa Teoría Sin Pruebas.” RTVE.es, 4 May 2023, www.rtve.es/noticias/20230504/estelas-quimicas-chemtrails-falsa-teoria-sin-pruebas/2443650.shtml [Accessed 15 May 2023].