What is HAARP? - three short articles
HAARP FACT SHEET
"HAARP", an acronym for "High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program", is a project having the goal of studying fundamental physical principles which govern the region of the earth's atmosphere known as the ionosphere. It is through this region that earth-based communications and radar transmissions must travel to reach satellites or to probe solar and planetary bodies; and conversely, for radio signals from outside the immediate environment of the earth to reach its surface. It also is from these ionized layers that radio waves reflect to achieve over-the-horizon communication and radar systems. The proposed research will be undertaken using high power radio transmitters to probe the overhead ionosphere, combined with a complement of modern scientific diagnostic instruments to investigate the results of the interactions.
HAARP would be constructed at auroral latitudes in Alaska. A unique feature of the research facility would be a high power high- frequency radio transmitter with the capability of rapidly steering a narrow beam of energy toward a designated region of the sky. Similar, though less capable, research facilities exist today at many locations throughout the world and are operated routinely for the purpose of scientific investigation of the ionosphere. In the US such systems are located at Arecibo, Puerto Rico and Fairbanks, Alaska. Other installations are at Tromso, Norway; Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Apatity, Russia; Kharkov, Ukraine and Dushanbe, Tadzhikistan. None of these existing systems, however, have the combination of frequency capability and beam steering agility required to perform the experiments planned for HAARP.
A congressionally initiated effort, HAARP is being managed cooperatively by the Air Force and Navy. The Air Force is responsible for oversight of the environmental process, site acquisition, and implementation of scientific instruments associated with the facility. The Navy is responsible for procurement of the primary contract to design and construct the high power, high-frequency radio transmitter. Users of the HAARP research facility would include civilian entities such as universities and the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as military agencies such as the Air Force, Navy, and Advanced Research Programs Agency (ARPA).
Value of Ionospheric Research
The layer of earth's atmosphere called the ionosphere begins approximately 35 miles above the surface and extends out beyond 500 miles. In contrast to the atmosphere close to the earth which is composed of neutral atoms and molecules, the ionosphere contains both positively and negatively charged particles known as ions and electrons. These ions and electrons are created naturally as a result of the action of the sun's radiation.
This ionized gas of the ionosphere behaves much differently from the neutral atmosphere closer to the earth. A major difference is that radio signals passing through the ionosphere may be distorted, totally reflected or absorbed. For example, communication links from the ground to earth-orbiting satellites can experience fading due to ionospheric distortion; an AM radio signal sometimes can reflect, or "skip , from the ionosphere and be heard at locations hundreds of miles distant from the broadcasting radio station; the characteristic fading on the high-frequency (HF) or "shortwave" band is due to ionospheric interference. Because of its strong interaction with radiowaves, the ionosphere can interfere with communications and radar surveillance systems, which depend on sending radiowaves from one location to another.
Investigations to be conducted at the HAARP facility are expected to provide significant scientific advancements in understanding the ionosphere. The research facility would be used to understand, stimulate and control ionospheric processes that might alter the performance of communication and surveillance systems. This research would enhance present civilian capabilities because it would facilitate the development of techniques to mitigate or control ionospheric processes. Ionospheric disturbances at high latitudes also can act to induce large currents in electric power grids: these are thought to cause power outages. Understanding of these and other phenomena is important to maintain reliable communication and power services. Other civilian applications from the program's research could lead to improved local and world-wide communication such as satellite communication. Furthermore, and possibly more significant, is the potential for new technology that could be developed from a better understanding of ionospheric processes.
DoD Involvement
Potential applications of the HAARP research include developing DoD technology for detecting cruise missiles and aircraft and for communicating with submarines. Although HAARP is being managed by the Air Force and Navy, it is purely a scientific research facility which represents no threat to potential adversaries and would therefore have no value as a military target.
HAARP Transmissions
HAARP would transmit HF radiowaves in a narrow beam, pointed upward to interact with the ionosphere. The beam would be several degrees wide, depending on frequency, and thus would influence a region several miles in diameter in the lower ionosphere, expanding to several tens of miles in the upper ionosphere. The transmissions would be accomplished through the design and construction of a world-class ionospheric research instrument (IRI).
Ionospheric changes produced experimentally by the IRI would be similar to phenomena which occur under natural conditions. However, nature operates on a much larger scale, and for a much longer duration, than would the IRI. The effect of the IRI would be temporary only; the ionosphere would return to its original state within a matter of seconds and there would be no lasting changes.
Because most of the energy of the high power radio beam would be emitted upward rather than toward the horizon, potentially hazardous values of radio field strength would not be present at ground level except possibly very close to the IRI. To prevent human and large mammal exposure to these near-in fields, an exclusion fence would be constructed.
The upward-directed IRI main beam could be sufficiently strong potentially to interfere with electronic equipment in aircraft flying nearby. To preclude this possibility, an aircraft detection radar would be interfaced with the operations center of the IRI, to automatically turn-off the high power transmissions should aircraft be detected flying on a route to pass through the radiowave beam.
The IRI would be constrained to operate within the 2.8 - 10 megahertz (MHz) band on a clear-channel, non-interference basis. Theoretical calculations indicate that interference with television, AM and FM radio, ham radios, cellular phones and/or satellite dishes possibly may be anticipated, in addition to the possibility of interference with HAARP's own radio equipment. The Air Force and Navy are committed to a mitigation program that includes acquisition of equipment to minimize out-of-band transmissions; properly orienting the IRI array to reduce signals emitted toward local population centers; adoption of operating procedures, including beam steering, to reduce the percentage of time large signal levels would be transmitted toward large cities; employing special techniques such as null placement; and working with complainants to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. A smaller, less powerful, IRI will be constructed as a demonstration prototype to ensure mitigation techniques will alleviate possible interference.
HAARP Facilities
The major components of the main HAARP research facility would include the IRI, the combined Operations Center & Diesel Power Building, and a number of scientific instruments used for data- gathering, termed "diagnostics", placed at various locations on the HAARP site. The IRI would consist of an antenna array and associated transmitters, operated from a control room within the Operations Center. The diagnostics would be used to observe the natural parameters of the ionosphere as well as the experimental results with the lRI operating.
The antenna would occupy a rectangular area roughly 1000 ft x 1200 ft and would consist of a 12 x 15 array of antenna masts, each supporting two horizontal crossed dipole antennas, stacked one above the other. The masts would reach a maximum height of 72 ft and would be constrained by guy wires. It is anticipated that the masts would sit on individual piles; gravel fill between the rows and columns of masts would permit access by maintenance vehicles.
While some of the diagnostic instruments would be collocated with the IRI at the research facility, others, due to data collection requirements, must be located off-site at some distance from the IRI. One of the primary on-site diagnostics would be an incoherent scatter radar (ISR) which would transmit radiowave signals in the 430 - 450 MHz band. The ISR would be a 120 ft diameter radar dish supported by a 25 ft diameter pedestal.
The combined power demands of the IRI and ISR would be roughly 12 megawatts (MW). The method of power supply has not been finalized; however, the use of diesel generators is under consideration.
Design and Construction
As the result of a competitive procurement the Air Force and Navy have awarded a contract to ARCO Power Technologies, Inc. (APTI) for the design and construction of the IRI and associated support facilities. The IRI design was selected while considering both cost and environmental impacts. The current schedule anticipates construction at the Gakona site would begin November 1993 and conclude the fall of 1994 with the demonstration prototype. Construction for the full-size IRI is anticipated to begin early 1995 and conclude late 1997.
Site Location
As part of the environmental decision making process, Gakona and Clear AFS were considered as alternative sites for the HAARP facility. On 18 October 1993, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, selecting Gakona, Alaska as the site for the HAARP Ionospheric Research Facility. The ROD signing follows the Air Force preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the potential environmental effects of the HAARP facility.
Use of Local Resources
The prime contractor, APTI, has indicated that they anticipate use of Alaska-based companies in constructing the facility. Green Alaska, ARCO Alaska, Inc. and AHTNA, Inc., are among the companies bang considered.
Postconstruction Operations of the HAARP Research Facility
Since HAARP is to be devoted to ionospheric research, which typically is conducted during a series of research campaigns, it would be used periodically rather than continuously. Campaigns would be scheduled four or five times a year, and typically would involve 10-15 visiting scientists conducting experiments at the site over a two-week period. During research campaigns the scientists will depend on the local economy for food, lodging and other necessities. Maintenance and security functions would be performed by local personnel, who would reside off-site. The HAARP research site is being planned for a life of approximately 20 years.
Environmental Process
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the Air Force has prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS), with the Navy as a cooperating agency, to evaluate the consequences of constructing and operating the HAARP research facility in Alaska. State and federal environmental regulatory agencies were consulted to identify issues which are addressed in the EIS. Additional input was solicited from the public during scoping meetings held in Alaska in August 1992. Topics addressed in the EIS include, but are not limited to, electromagnetic and radio frequency interference, vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, air quality, subsistence, cultural resources and the ionosphere.
The Air Force prepared and distributed to the public and to specific organizations a draft EIS on 12 March 1993. During the subsequent 45-day public review period the Air Force held public hearings, at both Glennallen and Anderson, Alaska to solicit input on the draft EIS. All reasonable questions and comments received by 25 April 1993, the end of the public review period, were addressed in writing in the final EIS, which was released to the public on 15 July 1993. The Air Force signed a Record of Decision on 18 October 1993 selecting Gakona, Alaska as the site for the HAARP Ionospheric Research Facility.
In addition to the NEPA process described above, the Air Force and Navy would comply with all applicable state and federal regulations for construction and operation of the HAARP facility.
Additional Information
An updated version of this fact sheet will be issued as often as program changes warrant to keep interested parties apprised of significant developments in regard to HAARP. Any individual seeking additional information about HAARP, or wishing to provide comments regarding HAARP, can contact any one of the individuals listed below.
Mr. John HeckscherPl/gpia
Phillips Laboratory
29 Randolph Road
Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-3010Mr. Ralph Scott
3rd Wing Public Affairs Division
Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506Mr. Guy McConnell
Alaska District Corps of Engineers, Planning
Npaen-pl-er
Anchorage, Alaska 99506-0898
Is Haarp A Starwars Weapon?
Defending against enemy missile attacks and other imagined threats has generated futuristic and science fiction sounding proposals better known as Starwars. Concepts and ideas circulated wildly throughout government, military and civilian circles. As the former Soviet Union broke up, the backing for U.S. Starwars efforts evaporated and the spending on such projects was dropped. But not soon enough. Many experimental starwars research projects are still funded and being pursued by the military.
HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program), being constructed for the Air Force and Navy by an ARCO subsidiary, is such a project. Touted as scientific research, HAARP is a thinly disguised project to "perturb" the ionosphere with extremely powerful beams of energy to see what military uses it can serve. According to the HAARP RFP, these energy beams will be used to "control ionospheric processes in such a way as to greatly enhance the performance of C3 systems (or, to deny accessibility to an adversary)." That sounds like a weapon to this writer. Other such projects go by the code names BIME, RED AIR, CRRES, EXCEDE, CHARGE IV, WISP, ACTIVE, HIPAS, RADC, AIM, etc..
Nuclear bombs exploded in high altitude tests in the late fifties and early sixties by both the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. caused weather and jet stream changes that lasted almost 20 years. Do the HAARP heaters offer the same potential as they "perturb" the ionosphere? The ionosphere is home to many beneficial natural phenomena among them filtering the sun's harmful rays and reflecting radio waves used for communications. Although not totally understood, the ionosphere also directly effects the weather systems and the jet streams.
HAARP, "the most powerful facility (of its kind) in the world" is currently under construction near Gakona, Alaska. Other smaller ionospheric heaters of this type are already in operation in Norway, Ukraine, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Puerto Rico and Fairbanks (yes, right here in Alaska). Could tests and experiments with these ionospheric heaters already be changing global weather systems? Could they be a contributing cause for the floods in the U.S.? Could this be the kind of secret weapon that Zhirinovsky speaks of? Can these heaters change the earth's magnetic fields as well and cause equal reactions half-way around the globe? Will we need to protect ourselves from the sun's rays due to new holes in the ionosphere? What will happen to the individuals living near HAARP when it operates, will they be exposed to unnecessary risk of electromagnetic radiation?
Some of the specific language in the HAARP documents is quoted below and on the next page:
"The HAARP is to ultimately have a HF {High Frequency} heater with an ERP {Effective Radiated Power} well above 1 gigawatt {1,000,000,000 watts} (on the order of 95-100 dBW); in short, the most powerful faci!ity in the world for conducting ionospheric modification research."
"The Soviets, operating at higher powers than the West, now have claimed significant stimulated ionization by electron-impact ionization. The claim is that HF energy, via wave-particle interaction, accelerates ionospheric electrons to energies well in excess of 20 electron volts (eV) so that they will ionize neutral atmospheric particles with which they collide. Given that the Soviet HF facilities are several times more powerful than the Western facilities at comparable midlatitudes, and given that the latter appear to be on a threshold of a new "waveparticle" regime of phenomena, it is believed that the Soviets have crossed that threshold and are exploring a regime of phenomena still unavailable for study or application in the West."
"A key goal of the program {HAARP} is the identification and investigation of those ionospheric processes and phenomena that can be exploited for DoD purposes, such as outlined below.
Geophysical probing to identify and characterize natural ionospheric processes ... so that techniques can be developed to mitigate or control them.
Generation of ionospheric lenses to focus large amounts of HF energy ... thus providing a means for triggering ionospheric processes that potentially could be exploited for DoD purposes.
Electron acceleration for the generation of IR (infrared) and other optical emissions ... that could be used to control radio wave propagation properties.
Generation of geomagnetic-field aligned ionization to control the reflection/scattering properties of radio waves.
Oblique heating to produce effects on radio wave propagation at great distances from the heater, thus broadening the potential military applications of ionospheric enhancement technology.
Generation of ionization layers below 90 km to provide radio wave reflectors ("mirrors") which can be exploited for long range, over-the-horizon, HF/VHF/UHF surveillance purposes ....
Why are the citizens of the United States being asked to pay for such a project? Why do those associated closely with the project reference its use as submarine communications and other apparently innocuous purposes?
Monster in the Wilderness
by C. Zickuhr
The HAARP project being constructed near Gakona, Alaska will create the largest-of-its-kind ionospheric heater using computer controlled radio frequency transmitters. HAARP, which stands for High Frequency Active Auroral Research Project, is a joint effort of the Air Force and the Navy. HAARP program manager, John Heckscher, claims that it is a research project with both military and civilian benefits yet only military experiments can be found in the documentation for the project. The acronym implies something to do with the aurora, but none of the project papers mention that aspect. What sounds like an engineering feat deserving of public accolade, has remained suspiciously low profile, almost unknown to most Alaskans as well as the rest of the country.
Documents acquired from the Office of Naval Research via the Freedom Of Information Act reveal a more ominous purpose for HAARP. According to these documents, the U.S. military believes the former Soviet Union has similar heaters with which they claim to have achieved higher levels of ionospheric reaction than possible so far in the "West". Although smaller in size than the HAARP project, there are many other ground based transmitting heaters in operation around the world; Tromso, Norway and Arecibo, Puerto Rico among them. Can these heaters already be changing the weather, and have they somehow contributed to the recent climate-based catastrophes in the U.S? Might migratory species traveling through the "rays" have already experienced irreversible damage? How many humans have contracted cancers that might have remained dormant if not "excited" by these transmissions? When Russia's Zhirinovsky speaks of secret weapons, is he referring to their version of HAARP?
HAARP first came to my attention in the spring of 1993, when a neighbor and airline pilot brought me materials on the project. The FAA had briefed commercial pilots in Alaska on changes needed to avoid interference from future HAARP transmissions. As a ham radio operator, my neighbor assumed that I had some knowledge of the "giant transmitter" and its effect on other communications. After making inquiries to other hams, a few recalled seeing announcements for public meetings in Glenallen and Anderson, Alaska. Several then attended these Draft Environmental Impact meetings and gathered information.
FAA personnel, pilots, communications engineers and others raised serious questions during the HAARP Draft Environmental Impact Statement process. According to official statements, these questions were all properly addressed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Closer examination reveals a different story. Local FAA engineers, aware of the heavy safety dependency of airplane communications, voiced strong objections. The national FAA, however, overrode these objections and gave HAARP the green light after "assurances" that lower level concerns would be accommodated. The FEIS admits that all forms of radio communication are subject to interference, yet completely ignores the concerns expressed in many of the comments. Individuals, organizations and agencies that use radio for their day-to-day livelihood were left with a "let us know and we'll try to mitigate it" promise. It is important to remember the definition of mitigation is "to reduce", not "to eliminate". What recourse does the Alaskan Bush communicator have when their radio transmissions are rendered useless by HAARP? That is their only form of communication.
The FEIS and other Department of Defense documents indicate that interference problems would be too great to allow it to be located near other military facilities in Alaska. What kind of monster is it that they can't even locate it near existing military bases? Even the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has reservations about HAARP transmissions. They would only permit one of the test sites (Mineral Wells, Texas) to operate and so far have declined to extend all the requested frequency/power privileges necessary for the Alaska site. The enormous lobbying power of the military may overwhelm reason and force the NTIA to go along with the HAARP request. After all, Gakona is a "virtually uninhabited" area of the world.
Electromagnetic radiation has drawn increasing interest in the form of health impact studies and research worldwide. The HAARP project will generate massive amounts of intentional and some unintentional radiation. The HAARP environmental impact statements deny possible biological effects on humans, citing obsolete IEEE standards that basically say if the radiation isn't causing you to feel heat, it does not harm you. The preponderance of current studies indicate there can by promotion of cancer growth, disorientation, and other negative physical effects from low level, non-heating electromagnetic radiation. Why have our government agencies given their affirmation to something so clearly controversial?
After searching for answers to HAARP questions for the past year and a half, what has surfaced are very few answers and many more questions. How dangerous is HAARP (some physicists fear severe planetary consequences)? Commenting on HAARP in the April, 1994 issue of Physics and Society, C. L. Herzenberg says "...this technology does present issues that need to be publicly addressed by the technical community". Can HAARP change the ionosphere and weather patterns?? Can HAARP disrupt worldwide communications?? Can HAARP damage or destroy wildlife?? Will HAARP radiation change the migration habits of animals that come near it?? Can HAARP cause cancer?? Can the ionospheric effects of HAARP be controlled?? Why has the project been kept low profile and secretive, by the sponsors and the contractor (an ARCO subsidiary)?
UPDATE: JUNE 1994 - ARCO sold their subsidiary to E-Systems, the 41st largest U.S. defense contractor noted for their counter surveillance work. Why have Alaska's public officials avoided providing serious answers to the public's questions?? Anything that can generate these questions deserves the MONSTER title and our serious attention.
Additional pieces to the puzzle that have shown themselves only serve to heighten speculation that we are not getting clear and concise answers. There is a connection to the recently installed Cray supercomputer at UAF and to the Geophysical Institute there. There is an obvious power requirement that might be met by a proposed coal power plant at Healy, connected by a proposed power distribution intertie. Some of the experiments will require "seeding" the ionosphere with chemicals that could be delivered by rockets from the Poker Flats rocket range near Fairbanks. Patents held by the ARCO subsidiary building HAARP describe a similar ionospheric heater and claim abilities to stop missiles, change weather, and disrupt global communications. The inventor, Bernard Eastlund, claims he was hired by ARCO to find a use for their Alaska North Slope gas deposits; hence, his inventions described in the patents. Microwave News May/June, 1994 reported Eastlund said "The HAARP project obviously looks a lot like the first step toward this."
The Gakona location is interesting as it was once destined to become an over-the-horizon radar facility. The Cold War ended before it could be completely built. This left the military with a remote location with buildings and generating equipment partially completed, and a choice - either restore it to its original natural condition or find another use. HAARP conveniently fits the site. Is the choice of this remote site for these monster transmitters more a factor of fewer people to complain? Does it reduce the number of humans exposed to HAARP transmissions thereby reducing the liability? What about the wildlife in the area, what exposures will they be subjected to? One need only remember experiments of another era that generated nuclear fall-out killing and crippling humans and animals in its path. It only took forty to fifty years to get the agencies involved to admit liability.
In order to get an idea of just how large the HAARP transmitters are, imagine all the ham radio operators in the United States (there are over 500,000) transmitting at their maximum allowed power from one giant antenna. That still would not be as powerful as HAARP's multi-gigawatt (giga = billion) radiation capability. The average Alaskan ham can communicate across the state with less power than will be in the unintentional harmonics and side-lobes radiated by HAARP.
What exactly will HAARP do? According to HAARP project documents it will "perturb" the ionosphere with extremely powerful beams of energy. Using polarized, pulsating radio frequency transmissions to perform experiments which include devising methods to destroy the communications capabilities of others (presumably an adversary) while preserving their own communications. Experiments with mirroring and reflecting abilities of the ionosphere (abilities we currently depend on for all forms of communication) will be carried out to see what military purposes may be served by the resulting changes. An apt analogy that springs to mind is that of an inquisitive youngster poking a sleeping bear with a stick, to see what might happen! What will we do once the monster is unleashed?
The Alaska location was partially picked for its alignment with the earth's magnetic force lines. Military experiments with the magnetosphere also appear to be planned. And again the scientists warn of possible dire consequences, including setting the earth into some unexpected vibration or oscillation, similar to an axis wobble. Many scientists such as Richard Williams writing in Physics and Society in April, 1988 have denounced this kind of testing as irresponsible and downright dangerous, fearing long term negative ionospheric effects. Also, like any magnet, the force lines will react at their opposite pole, near Australia and New Zealand. Australians are concerned enough to consider sending a team to Alaska to document and investigate HAARP. Shouldn't Alaskans be interested too?
A group of NO HAARP activists is seeking to formalize their opposition by incorporating as a non-profit organization or affiliating with an existing group. Their prime purposes will be 4to promote awareness, file legal actions and other activities focused specifically on HAARP, something no group is currently doing. In fact, probably due to the remoteness of the Gakona location, it has been difficult to get outsiders interested. We are quite aware that the promoters of HAARP fully realize that they have the upper organizational hand and the money to outlast our grassroots opposition. Those of us in NO HAARP are committed to doing what we can to stop the project before it comes on-line with full power in 1997. Considering the project has been underway since the mid-1980's, this will be a difficult task. Luckily it was not completely funded as of a year ago. There is hope that legislative alternatives to stop it may exist as well. John Heckscher was quoted by Microwave News in the May/June, 1994 issue saying that "money for completion of the demonstration project is in place . . . but the larger facility would require additional funding from Congress". Unfortunately, this additional funding is likely to be buried deep in the DOD budget.
What can you do? Of course you can try to "write your congress person". The Alaska delegation to congress is noted for their alignment with the military so don't expect too much action from them. Send contributions for the NO HAARP effort to Jim Roderick, P.O. Box 916, Homer, AK 99603. You can lobby with the NTIA to turn down the HAARP frequency/power request. You can make others aware of the HAARP project and the questions it raises. Contact Eric Nashlund at 907-8223602 or snail at HCO-1 Box 271 Copper Center, AK. 99573 Kirtland AFB is the source of information through FOIA that we have received info on this projrect.
Source: http://www2.fiu.edu/~mizrachs/HAARP
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