Questions about white trails in sky
Residents have reported "sightings" to the Mossel Bay Municipality, described as the skies being sprayed white.
The municipality’s Environmental Department has offered some factual information pertaining to the sightings.
Contrails, chemtrails or cloudseeding can be seen as white "trails" in the sky.
The municipality noted: "Contrails and chemtrails are both related to aircrafts and their emissions, however, they are quite different in nature and purpose.
Contrails
"Short for condensation trails, these white lines are sometimes seen behind high-flying aircraft," according to the municipality.
They are composed primarily of water vapour, which is a by-product of aircraft engines burning fuel. When this water vapour comes into contact with cold air at high altitudes, it condenses into tiny ice crystals, forming visible white streaks in the sky.
The municipality stated: "Contrails are essentially clouds that form around the exhaust particles of an aircraft."
"It should be noted that previously, in the years prior to 2000, fewer high-flying passenger aircraft flew over Mossel Bay, as opposed to the present day, which obviously may lead to more contrail sightings."
Chemtrails
This is a term used in so-called conspiracy theories that suggest the trails left by aircraft are not just condensation, but chemicals purposely sprayed into the atmosphere for various purposes, often not with good intent.
"These theories typically claim that the chemicals in chemtrails are used for weather modification, mind control or other secret agendas. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims and the vast majority of atmospheric scientists and government agencies view these as nothing other than contrails," according to the municipality.
Cloudseeding
This on the other hand, is a legitimate weather modification action, in which substances such as silver iodide or dry ice are dispersed into clouds to encourage the formation of ice crystals or raindrops - the goal being increasing precipitation in a
particular area.
"Cloud seeding is done for purposes such as enhancing rainfall in droughtaffected regions or reducing hail in severe thunderstorms. Unlike chemtrails, cloud seeding is a well-established and scientifically supported practice with specific aims and methodologies," according to the municipality.
It is to be noted that the effectiveness and impact of cloud seeding in South Africa, as in other parts of the world, are subject to ongoing scientific study and debate.
Cloud seeding has been explored and used in various other countries often as a tool for water resource management and agricultural purposes.
Mossel Bay Municipality stated unequivocally that it had no involvement nor mandate pertaining to any of the abovementioned phenomena.
"It is advised to refer observation and concerns related to these phenomena to the Department of Health and or the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)," it concluded.