text:
USE OF "HAARP" AS AN EARTHQUAKE WEAPON- PROTECTED BY U.S. PATENT!?
Posted on November 28, 2019 by Editor 3 comments
The article originally prepared by> SERBian FBReporter, 28.08.2012
"Former Governor of Minnesota and noted conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura questioned whether the government is using the site to manipulate the weather or to bombard people with mind-controlling radio waves. An Air Force spokeswoman said Ventura made an official request to visit the research station but was rejected-"he and his crew showed up at HAARP anyway and were denied access".[20]"(Juneau Empire-17 Oct.2011)
Link between HAARP earth-penetrating tomography technology and earthquakes.
PRESS-Core, Sunday, March 13th, 2011
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is a congressionally initiated program jointly managed by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. The United States Congressional records show that HAARP is funded by the US government. The U.S. Senate set aside $15 million dollars in 1996 (Clinton administration) to develop the ability to penetrate the earth with signals bounced off of the ionosphere. This earth-penetrating-tomography has since been developed and used by the US government to look inside the planet to a depth of many kilometers in order to locate underground munitions, minerals and tunnels. The problem is that the frequencies used by HAARP for earth-penetrating tomography is also within the frequency range most cited for disruption of earth's own electromagnetic field.
HAARP patents states that HAARP can beam radio energy into the Auroral electrojet, the curved, charged-particle stream formed at high latitudes where the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field. The radio energy then disperses over large areas through ductlike regions of the ionosphere, forming a virtual antenna that can be thousands of miles in length.
Such an ELF antenna can emit waves penetrating as deeply as several kilometers into the ground, depending on the geological makeup and subsurface water conditions in a targeted area. HAARP uses ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to beam pulses of polarized high-frequency radio waves into the ionosphere. These pulses can be finely tuned and adjusted so that the bounced ground penetrating beam can target a very specific area and for a specific length of time. Beaming a very large energy beam into the ground for an extended period can cause an earthquake. After all, an earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic wave resonances. The same array of antennas that are used by HAARP for ground penetrating tomography can also be used to penetrate deep into the ground and cause an earthquake anywhere around the World.
Geophysical events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – the kinds of things that may already be on the edge of discharge – can, with the right resonant energies added into the system, cause them to overload and actually fracture. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen actually made the statement regarding weapons of mass destruction and the idea of generating earthquakes artificially. In a April 28, 1997 DoD News Briefing at the Conference on Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and U.S. Strategy at the Georgia Center, Mahler Auditorium, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. Cohen stated: "Others are engaging even in an eco- type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves."
United States Patent 5041834 – Artificial ionospheric mirror composed of a plasma layer which can be tilted.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING A REGION IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, AND/OR MAGNETOSPHERE
"HAARP PROTECTED": United States Patent 5041834– Inventor Koert Peter, Washington, DC
Koert, Peter (Washington, DC)
Export Citation:
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APTI, Inc. (Washington, DC)
Other Classes:
International Classes:
H01Q3/26; H01Q15/14; H01Q21/06; H04B7/22; H01Q3/26; H01Q15/14; H01Q21/06; H04B7/22; (IPC1-7): H01Q3/22; H04B7/00
Field of Search:
342/367, 342/353, 342/371, 342/372, 455/64
View Patent Images:
Download PDF 5041834 PDF help
US Patent References:
4817495 Defense system for discriminating between objects in space April, 1989 Drobot 89/11.1
4712155 Method and apparatus for creating an artificial electron cyclotron heating region of plasma December, 1987 Eastlund et al. 361/231
4686605 Method and apparatus for altering a region in the earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or magnetosphere August, 1987 Eastlund 361/231
4253190 Communications system using a mirror kept in outer space by electromagnetic radiation pressure February, 1981 Csonka 455/12
3445844 TRAPPED ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM May, 1969 Grossi et al. 342/367
Primary Examiner:
Issing, Gregory C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Foley & Lardner
What is claimed is:1. A method for generating an AIM, comprising the steps of:(a) creating avalanche ionization in the atmosphere using a heater antenna;(b) refocusing said heater antenna to alter the altitude of said avalanche ionization by frequency shifting said heater antenna; and
(c) scanning said heater antenna to paint an avalanche ionization layer.
2. A method for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heater antenna is focused in the near field.
3. An apparatus for generating an AIM comprising:(a) a phased array heater antenna which is focused at an altitude to cause an avalanche ionization area to be created in the atmosphere;
(b) means for controlling frequency of individual radiators of said phased array heater antenna to refocus said altitude of said avalanche ionization area; and
(c) means for controlling phase of the individual radiators to scan said phased array heater antenna.
4. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 3 wherein said phased array heater antenna is focused to cause said avalanche ionization area to be substantially a line.
5. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for controlling phase moves said line substantially at a constant altitude and said means for controlling frequency moves said line to different altitudes.
6. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 4 wherein said phased array heater antenna is a rectangular array and said line is formed parallel to a long dimension of said rectangular array.
7. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 3 wherein said phased array heater antenna is focused to cause said avalanche ionization area to be substantially a point.
8. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling the phase moves said point substantially at the same altitude and said means for controlling frequency moves said point to different altitudes.
9. An apparatus for generating an AIM as claimed in claim 3 wherein said phased array heater antenna is focused in the near field.
10. A method of generating an AIM comprising the steps of:(a) focusing a phased array heater antenna at an altitude to cause an avalanche ionization area to be created in the atmosphere;
(b) controlling the frequency of individual radiators of said phased array heater antenna to refocus said altitude of said avalanche ionization area;
(c) controlling phase of the individual radiators to scan said phased array heater antenna.
11. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step of focusing causes said avalanche ionization are to be substantially a line.
12. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 11 wherein said step of controlling phase moves said line substantially at a constant altitude and said step of controlling frequency moves said line to different altitudes.
13. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 11 wherein said phased array heater antenna is a rectangular array and said line is formed parallel to a long dimension of said rectangular array.
14. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step of focusing causes said avalanche ionization area to be substantially a point.
15. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of controlling phase moves said point substantially at the same altitude and said step of controlling frequency moves said point to different altitudes.
16. A method of generating an AIM as claimed in claim 10 wherein said step of focusing is performed in the near field.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to generation of a Artificial Ionospheric Mirror (AIM), or a plasma layer in the atmosphere. The AIM is used like the ionosphere to reflect RF energy over great distances.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, the technique of using the ionosphere as a mirror to reflect radio waves, or RF energy, has given Ham Radio operators the ability to send transmissions over long distances. This technique has also provided radar systems the ability to look "over the horizon." Variations and fluctuations in the ionosphere, however, can render the effectiveness of such communications uncertain. Thus, the desirability of creating controllable plasma layers in the atmosphere for communications purposes has been recognized. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,605 issued to Eastlund and U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,155 issued to Eastlund et al.
Previous experiments directed toward creating plasma layers for communications have suffered from the inability to control the inclination of the plasma layer so that signals could be transmitted and received from various ranges. In other words, while one could create a plasma layer in the atmosphere at a lower altitude than the ionosphere, point to point communications would be limited in range based on the reflection angles of the transmitted and reflected signals.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the limitations of the related art it is an object of this invention to generate a plasma layer that could be angled or tilted with respect to the horizon in order to affect signal transmission range.
The present invention provides a system and method for generating a plasma layer at controlled altitudes and inclinations that acts as an artificial ionospheric mirror (AIM) to reflect RF signals. The AIM increases the range and predictability with which RF energy may be reflected off the AIM for communications purposes. More specifically, a tiltable AIM is created by a heater antenna controlled in phase and frequency. The heater antenna phase shift scans a beam to paint a plasma layer. The heater antenna continually refocuses at a higher altitudes by frequency shifting to tilt the plasma layer.
Further details of the present invention are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows creation of an AIM by a heater antenna and use of the AIM for tracking aircraft and reflecting radio waves.
FIG. 2 shows a typical heater array.
FIG. 3 shows the spacial relationship for a heater array used in defining heater array focusing.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing that power is at its upper bound at the antenna focal point.
FIG. 5 shows generation of plasma by a heater array.
FIG. 6 illustrates generation of a plasma layer by scanning a heater antenna.
FIG. 7 illustrates generation of a tilted plasma layer by scanning and refocusing a heater antenna.
FIG. 8 shows generation of a plasma layer using a heater antenna to scan with a line rather than a point.
FIG. 9 shows the phase corrections to move the antenna focal point from 60 Km to 61 Km.
FIG. 10 shows the frequency corrections to move the antenna focal point from 60 Km to 61 Km.
FIG. 11 is a plot of altitude v. distance location of plasma without frequency chirping.
FIG. 12 is a plot of altitude v. distance location of plasma with frequency chirping.
FIG. 13 shows the power density change after refocusing using frequency chirping .
FIG. 14 graphs the free electron density v. altitude for an unfocused array.
FIG. 15 shows an antenna power pattern without grating lobes.
FIG. 16 shows an antenna power pattern with grating lobes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates the creation and use of An Artificial Ionospheric Mirror (AIM) for tracking aircraft and reflecting radio waves. A heater antenna 1 radiates power causing avalanche ionization or breakdown releasing free electrons in the atmosphere to generate the AIM 2. The heater antenna 1 is an array which can be used to focus energy at varying altitudes and elevations to tilt the AIM 2 using phase and frequency control. The AIM 2 simulates the ionosphere 3 which is also used to detect "over the horizon targets" 5. In addition, the AIM 2 can reflect radio signals transmitted from a transmitter 6 to a receiver 7 over long distances.
A typical heater antenna is shown in FIG. 2. It consists of an array of multiple active radiating elements 10 having their individual phase and frequency controlled from a control module 12. The radiating element 10 is used here to represent all possible antennas, including, but not limited to, dipoles, slots, small or large horns, log-periodic antennas, large parabolic reflectors, etc.
FIG. 3 shows the spatial relationship for a focused heater array. To have the electric fields from all of the array elements focus, or arrive in phase at a distance Ro in the near field of the array, it is necessary to correct the phase of each element to compensate for the phase delay difference from the center element due to the additional phase path Wij. If Ro is much larger than the maximum Dij in FIG. 3, then the phase delay can be approximated in wavelength to be: Wij =(Dij)2 /(4*R*g) (1)
where g is the wavelength of the heater frequency. Equation 1 is referred to as the quadratic phase error. If this error is less than g/8 when the element (i,j) is on the outer edge of the array, then the distance Ro is said to be in the far field of the array.
In order to focus the array at Ro, it is necessary to have several wavelengths of phase error from the outer elements of the array. That is, the term "focus" is used in this context to mean that the electric field from the array is concentrated in a desired spatial region.
FIG. 4 shows the degree of focusing that can be accomplished. This is a vertical pattern of an array whose elements have been phase shifted to focus at 60 Km. The array has 400 elements with a total width and length of 2000 g. The peak of the pattern is determined by the 1/Ro2dependence.
The AIM ionization layer is created by using this focused power to ionize an area in the atmosphere, as shown in FIG. 5. The microwave breakdown of air occurs where free electrons gain enough energy from an electric field to generate additional free electrons until no more can be generated, thereby resulting in avalanche ionization, or breakdown. This causes the generation of a plasma layer 21. For example, a pulse of power from the heater begins to propagate in the z direction shown in FIG. 5. As the field propagates, more free electrons are generated. A breakdown point descends vertically from the focal point of the propagating field giving thickness to the ionized layer, or plasma layer, until all ionization stabilizes. This "clamping" creates a thin vertical plasma layer.
Simulation results show that when an array 20 is focused at a point 22, electric field power peaks at the focal point. Simulation results shows that given a focused microwave source avalanche ionization, or breakdown will occur at a power level 3-10 dB below the focal point power level.
To create an AIM, the heater array is focused at a desired altitude to maximize power at a point and thereby generate plasma. The heater antenna then "scans" the phase of each array element to move the focal point.
FIG. 6 illustrates creation of a noninclined AIM layer. The heater array 30 is first focused at point 31. The heater array scans horizontally by phase shifting to a point 32 creating an avalanche ionization line 33. Next, the heater array scans from a point 34 to a point 35 creating another avalanche ionization line 36. The heater array continues this process to create an ionization plane or AIM layer.
In order to form an inclined AIM cloud, each new ionization line must occur at a slightly higher altitude. By altering the phase or frequency of the array elements, the focal point can be moved up in altitude, as described below.
FIG. 7 illustrates creation of an inclined AIM. The heater array 40 is first focused at point 41. The heater array scans along the x direction to point 42 to generate avalanche ionization along line 43. Next, as in creation of a non-inclined AIM, the heater array scans along the x and y directions directly below point 44. The heater array 40 alters either phase or frequency to refocus to a higher altitude in the z direction to the point 44. The heater array then scans along the x axis to point 45 to create the avalanche ionization line 46. The heater array continues this process to create a tilted ionization plane or tilted AIM layer.
FIG. 8 shows that the preferred method of generating a plasma layer uses a heater antenna to scan with a line rather than a point. Scanning using a line is preferred since an AIM can be created in the atmosphere in less time. To create lines of ionization rather than points, a rectangular array 50 is used. In the array 50, radiating elements are focused only along the plane of the long dimension of the rectangular array, creating a line of ionization 53. The array is then scanned along the x-y axis and in altitude along the z axis to create another ionization line 55. More ionization lines are similarly generated to form a tilted AIM layer.
In order to create a tilted AIM it is necessary to refocus the heater array at successively higher altitudes. Moving the focal point by changing the phase of each element of the heater in a very precise manner is not practical. Moving the focal point away from the initial location requires changing the phase on each element. The phase change required is near the rms tolerance level, typically 1 degree. FIG. 9 shows the required phase corrections to move the focal point from 60 Km to 61 km. Elements 5, 10, 15, and 20 have distances 5d, 10d, 15d, and 20d, respectively from the center of the antenna, where d=25 meters It is clear from FIG. 9 that it is impractical to alter numerous antenna element phases to move the focal point to create tilted patches for AIM applications. 2000 elements may be required here to generate enough power to ionize the atmosphere.
The second method of refocusing is accomplished by first setting the phases of all elements for the initial focal point and then moving the focal point by changing the frequency rather than the phase. This frequency chirping method is less precise, but easier for hardware implementation because precise phases for 2000 elements need not be changed. FIG. 9 shows the required phase corrections to move the focal point from 60 Km to 61 Km. FIG. 10 shows that the focal point can be moved 100 meters by increasing the frequency approximately 1 Mhz. The resulting focal point power levels are not completely optimized, but simulation shows that there is less than a 0.1 db difference between the frequency shifted peaks and those obtained by phasing.
Tilting the AIM using frequency chirping is practical to achieve in a real system. FIG. 11 shows the plasma layer location with no frequency chirping. FIG. 12 shows the plasma location of the same heater creating a tilted AIM by increasing frequency from 550 MHz to 559.375 MHz while scanning horizontally. The result is a smooth patch with a 45 degree inclination.
While it is true that frequency chirping does not achieve the same power as phase focusing at the higher altitude, the difference for small frequency chirps is negligible. FIG. 13 shows actual power density data generated by a 300 MHz heater focused at 70 km with the frequency chirped to 308 MHz.
In the far field region, power meets its upper bound without focusing. For a far field or unfocused array, there is no way to raise the ionization altitude or create a tilted AIM. Ionization takes place at a point where there is enough power to initiate breakdown and where there is low enough neutral density (i.e. pressure). This usually occurs between 40 and 50 km altitude as shown in FIG. 14. Consequently, a near field focused antenna is required to create a controlled AIM.
The focused pattern is a picture of constructive and destructive interference of the fields from the elements of the array. Other interference positions, or grating lobes, outside the focal point occur when some of the array elements add up in phase. The power of grating lobes can be kept below that of the main lobe, or focal point, by having a large number of elements in the array and spreading them out over the array aperture. This is called thinning the array. For square arrays having 400 elements or more grating lobes can be kept down by 20 db or more from the focal point.
The degree of focusing depends on the ratio of focal range to aperture size. The half power width from peak "V" can be approximated as: V=2*g*(Ro /L)2 (2)
where L is the length of the array which is assumed square for equation 2. The power gradient at the half power point "grad(P)" can be approximated as: grad(P)=10/V(db/meter) (3)
For an AIM it is desirable that the power gradient be high because this directly determines the gradient of the electron density of the generated ionized cloud. The electron density must be high to avoid RF losses caused by absorption. Hence V be small, preferably less than 2 Km. A heater frequency of 300 MHz and a focal distance of 70 Km would project an aperture size greater than 2 Km. Note in equation 2 that array size scales with the square root of frequency.
Since a near field antenna is required, the near field of the heater antenna may be required to extend to reach distant points. This is accomplished by increasing the array size. It may not be economically feasible to fill this entire aperture with elements, hence a thinned array is utilized.
If a thinned array had its elements uniformly distributed, there would be many grating lobes in the radiation pattern of the array. These grating lobes can be eliminated by randomly spacing elements. However, random spacing puts power from the grating lobes into the average side lobe level. If no new elements are introduced when the aperture is increased, then the peak power of the main lobe remains constant and the main lobe receives less of the total power as its beamwidth decreases. In order to preserve the efficiency of the heater array, grating lobes must be utilized in creating the AIM cloud or the array can not be heavily thinned. FIG. 15 shows an array with uniform spacing having grating lobes. FIG. 16 shows an array with randomized spacing which eliminates the grating lobes.
Although the invention has been described above with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
THE PUBLISHED FACTS ABOUT "High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program"
"HAARP" redirects here. For the live CD/DVD package by Muse named after the project, see HAARP (album).
Not to be confused with Project HARP, the High Altitude Research Project.
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program Research Station
John Heckscher
Gakona, Alaska
University of Alaska
Operating agency
Office of Naval Research
www.haarp.alaska.edu
The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is an ionospheric research program jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the University of Alaska, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).[1]
Built by BAE Advanced Technologies (BAEAT), its purpose is to analyze the ionosphere and investigate the potential for developing ionospheric enhancement technology for radio communications and surveillance.[2] The HAARP program operates a major sub-arctic facility, named the HAARP Research Station, on an Air Force–owned site near Gakona, Alaska.
The most prominent instrument at the HAARP Station is the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI), a high-power radio frequency transmitter facility operating in the high frequency (HF) band. The IRI is used to temporarily excite a limited area of the ionosphere. Other instruments, such as a VHF and a UHF radar, a fluxgate magnetometer, a digisonde, and an induction magnetometer, are used to study the physical processes that occur in the excited region.
Work on the HAARP Station began in 1993. The current working IRI was completed in 2007, and its prime contractor was BAE Systems Advanced Technologies.[1] As of 2008, HAARP had incurred around $250 million in tax-funded construction and operating costs.
HAARP has been blamed by conspiracy theorists for a range of events, including numerous natural disasters. Various scientists have commented that HAARP is an attractive target for conspiracy theorists because according to computer scientist David Naiditch, "its purpose seems deeply mysterious to the scientifically uninformed".[3]
1 Objectives
3 Instrumentation and operation
5 Related facilities
6 Fringe speculations
7 In popular culture
10 Further reading
[edit] Objectives
HAARP antenna array
The HAARP project directs a 3.6 MW signal, in the 2.8–10 MHz region of the HF (high-frequency) band, into the ionosphere. The signal may be pulsed or continuous. Then, effects of the transmission and any recovery period can be examined using associated instrumentation, including VHF and UHF radars, HF receivers, and optical cameras. According to the HAARP team, this will advance the study of basic natural processes that occur in the ionosphere under the natural but much stronger influence of solar interaction, and how the natural ionosphere affects radio signals.
This will enable scientists to develop methods to mitigate these effects to improve the reliability or performance of communication and navigation systems, which would have a wide range of uses, civilian and military, such as an increased accuracy of GPS navigation, and advances in underwater and underground research and applications. This may lead to improved methods for submarine communication, or an ability to remotely sense and map the mineral content of the terrestrial subsurface, and perhaps underground complexes, of regions or countries, among other things. The current facility lacks the range to reach these countries, but the research could be used to develop a mobile platform.[4]
The HAARP program began in 1990. The project is funded by the Office of Naval Research and jointly managed by the ONR and Air Force Research Laboratory, with the principal involvement of the University of Alaska. Many other universities and educational institutions of the United States have been involved in the development of the project and its instruments, namely the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Stanford University, Penn State University (ARL), Boston College, UCLA, Clemson University, Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MIT, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and the University of Tulsa. The project's specifications were developed by the universities, which are continuing to play a major role in the design of future research efforts.
According to HAARP's management, the project strives for openness, and all activities are logged and publicly available. Scientists without security clearances, even foreign nationals, are routinely allowed on site. The HAARP facility regularly (once a year on most years according to the HAARP home page) hosts open houses, during which time any civilian may tour the entire facility. In addition, scientific results obtained with HAARP are routinely published in major research journals (such as Geophysical Research Letters, or Journal of Geophysical Research), written both by university scientists (American and foreign) or by U.S. Department of Defense research lab scientists. Each summer, the HAARP holds a summer school for visiting students, including foreign nationals, giving them an opportunity to do research with one of the world's foremost research instruments.
[edit] Research
HAARP's main goal is basic science research of the uppermost portion of the atmosphere, termed the ionosphere. Essentially a transition between the atmosphere and the magnetosphere, the ionosphere is where the atmosphere is thin enough that the sun's X-rays and UV rays can reach it, but thick enough that there are still enough molecules present to absorb those rays. Consequently, the ionosphere consists of a rapid increase in density of free electrons, beginning at ~70 km, reaching a peak at ~300 km, and then falling off again as the atmosphere disappears entirely by ~1,000 km. Various aspects of HAARP can study all of the main layers of the ionosphere.
The profile of the ionosphere is highly variable, changing constantly on timescales of minutes, hours, days, seasons, and years. This profile becomes even more complex near Earth's magnetic poles, where the nearly vertical alignment and intensity of earth's magnetic field can cause physical effects like aurorae.
The ionosphere is traditionally very difficult to measure. Balloons cannot reach it because the air is too thin, but satellites cannot orbit there because the air is still too thick. Hence, most experiments on the ionosphere give only small pieces of information. HAARP approaches the study of the ionosphere by following in the footsteps of an ionospheric heater called EISCAT near Tromsø, Norway. There, scientists pioneered exploration of the ionosphere by perturbing it with radio waves in the 2–10 MHz range, and studying how the ionosphere reacts. HAARP performs the same functions but with more power and a more flexible and agile HF beam.
Some of the main scientific findings from HAARP include
Generating very low frequency radio waves by modulated heating of the auroral electrojet, useful because generating VLF waves ordinarily requires gigantic antennas
Generating weak luminous glow (measurable, but below that visible with a naked eye) from absorbing HAARP's signal
Generating extremely low frequency waves in the 0.1 Hz range. These are next to impossible to produce any other way, because the length of a transmit antenna is dictated by the wavelength of the signal it must emit.
Generating whistler-mode VLF signals that enter the magnetosphere and propagate to the other hemisphere, interacting with Van Allen radiation belt particles along the way
VLF remote sensing of the heated ionosphere
Research at the HAARP includes
Ionospheric super heating[citation needed]
Plasma line observations
Stimulated electron emission observations
Gyro frequency heating research
Spread F observations (blurring of ionospheric echoes of radio waves due to irregularities in electron density in the F layer)
High velocity trace runs
Airglow observations
Heating induced scintillation observations
VLF and ELF generation observations[5]
Radio observations of meteors
Polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) have been studied, probing the mesosphere using the IRI as a powerful radar, and with a 28 MHz radar, and two VHF radars at 49 MHz and 139 MHz. The presence of multiple radars spanning both HF and VHF bands allows scientists to make comparative measurements that may someday lead to an understanding of the processes that form these elusive phenomena.
Research on extraterrestrial HF radar echos: the Lunar Echo experiment (2008).[6][7]
Testing of Spread Spectrum Transmitters (2009)
Meteor shower impacts on the ionosphere
Response and recovery of the ionosphere from solar flares and geomagnetic storms
The effect of ionospheric disturbances on GPS satellite signal quality
[edit] Instrumentation and operation
The main instrument at HAARP Station is the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI). This is a high power, high-frequency phased array radio transmitter with a set of 180 antennas, disposed in an array of 12×15 units that occupy a rectangle of about 33 acres (13 hectares). The IRI is used to temporarily energize a small portion of the ionosphere. The study of these disturbed volumes yields important information for understanding natural ionospheric processes.
During active ionospheric research, the signal generated by the transmitter system is delivered to the antenna array and transmitted in an upward direction. At an altitude between 70 km (43 mi) to 350 km (217 mi) (depending on operating frequency), the signal is partially absorbed in a small volume several tens of kilometers in diameter and a few meters thick over the IRI. The intensity of the HF signal in the ionosphere is less than 3 µW/cm², tens of thousands of times less than the Sun's natural electromagnetic radiation reaching the earth and hundreds of times less than even the normal random variations in intensity of the Sun's natural ultraviolet (UV) energy which creates the ionosphere. The small effects that are produced, however, can be observed with the sensitive scientific instruments installed at the HAARP Station, and these observations can provide information about the dynamics of plasmas and insight into the processes of solar-terrestrial interactions.[8]
Each antenna element consists of a crossed dipole that can be polarized for linear, ordinary mode (O-mode), or extraordinary mode (X-mode) transmission and reception.[9][10] Each part of the two section crossed dipoles are individually fed from a custom built transmitter, that has been specially designed with very low distortion. The Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of the IRI is limited by more than a factor of 10 at its lower operating frequencies. Much of this is due to higher antenna losses and a less efficient antenna pattern.
The IRI can transmit between 2.7 and 10 MHz, a frequency range that lies above the AM radio broadcast band and well below Citizens' Band frequency allocations. The HAARP Station is licensed to transmit only in certain segments of this frequency range, however. When the IRI is transmitting, the bandwidth of the transmitted signal is 100 kHz or less. The IRI can transmit in continuous waves (CW) or in pulses as short as 10 microseconds (µs). CW transmission is generally used for ionospheric modification, while transmission in short pulses frequently repeated is used as a radar system. Researchers can run experiments that use both modes of transmission, first modifying the ionosphere for a predetermined amount of time, then measuring the decay of modification effects with pulsed transmissions.
There are other geophysical instruments for research at the Station. Some of them are:
A fluxgate magnetometer built by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, available to chart variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Rapid and sharp changes of it may indicate a geomagnetic storm.
A digisonde that provides ionospheric profiles, allowing scientists to choose appropriate frequencies for IRI operation. The HAARP makes current and historic digisonde information available online.
An induction magnetometer, provided by the University of Tokyo, that measures the changing geomagnetic field in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) range of 0–5 Hz.
[edit] Site
The project site (
WikiMiniAtlas
62°23′30″N 145°09′03″W / 62.39167°N 145.15083°W / 62.39167; -145.15083) is north of Gakona, Alaska just west of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. An environmental impact statement led to permission for an array of up to 180 antennas to be erected.[11] The HAARP has been constructed at the previous site of an over-the-horizon radar (OTH) installation. A large structure, built to house the OTH now houses the HAARP control room, kitchen, and offices. Several other small structures house various instruments. The HAARP site has been constructed in three distinct phases:[12]
The Developmental Prototype (DP) had 18 antenna elements, organized in three columns by six rows. It was fed with a total of 360 kilowatts (kW) combined transmitter output power. The DP transmitted just enough power for the most basic of ionospheric testing.
The Filled Developmental Prototype (FDP) had 48 antenna units arrayed in six columns by eight rows, with 960 kW of transmitter power. It was fairly comparable to other ionospheric heating facilities. This was used for a number of successful scientific experiments and ionospheric exploration campaigns over the years.
The Final IRI (FIRI) is the final build of the IRI. It has 180 antenna units, organized in 15 columns by 12 rows, yielding a theoretical maximum gain of 31 dB. A total of 3.6 MW of transmitter power will feed it, but the power is focused in the upward direction by the geometry of the large phased array of antennas which allow the antennas to work together in controlling the direction. As of March 2007[update], all the antennas were in place, the final phase was completed and the antenna array was undergoing testing aimed at fine-tuning its performance to comply with safety requirements required by regulatory agencies. The facility officially began full operations in its final 3.6 MW transmitter power completed status in the summer of 2007, yielding an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5.1 Gigawatts or 97.1 dBW at maximum output. However, the site typically operates at a fraction of that value due to the lower antenna gain exhibited at standard operational frequencies.[13]
[edit] Related facilities
In America, there are two related ionospheric heating facilities: the HIPAS, near Fairbanks, Alaska, which was dismantled in 2009, and (currently offline for reconstruction) one at the Arecibo Observatory[14] in Puerto Rico. The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) operates an ionospheric heating facility, capable of transmitting over 1 GW effective radiated power (ERP), near Tromsø, Norway.[15] Russia has the Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility, in Vasilsursk near Nizhniy Novgorod, capable of transmitting 190 MW ERP.
[edit] Fringe speculations
See also: List of conspiracy theories: Development of weapons technology
HAARP is the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, with individuals ascribing various hidden motives and capabilities to the project. Journalist Sharon Weinberger called HAARP "the Moby Dick of conspiracy theories" and said the popularity of conspiracy theories often overshadows the benefits HAARP may provide to the scientific community.[16][17] Computer scientist David Naiditch has also referred to HAARP as "a magnet for conspiracy theorists", saying the project has been blamed for triggering catastrophes such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and devastating earthquakes in Pakistan and the Philippines, major power outages, the downing of TWA Flight 800, Gulf War syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome.[3]
Specific allegations include the following:
A Russian military journal wrote that ionospheric testing would "trigger a cascade of electrons that could flip earth's magnetic poles".[18]
The European Parliament and the Alaska state legislature held hearings about HAARP, the former citing "environmental concerns".[19]
Author of the self-published Angels Don't Play This HAARP, Nick Begich has told lecture audiences that HAARP could trigger earthquakes and turn the upper atmosphere into a giant lens so that "the sky would literally appear to burn".[18]
Former Governor of Minnesota and noted conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura questioned whether the government is using the site to manipulate the weather or to bombard people with mind-controlling radio waves. An Air Force spokeswoman said Ventura made an official request to visit the research station but was rejected-"he and his crew showed up at HAARP anyway and were denied access".[20]
[edit] In popular culture
HAARP has been dramatized in popular culture by Marvel Comics, author Tom Clancy (the novel Breaking Point in the Net Force series), and The X-Files.
A fictionalized HAARP was the setting for a stage in the X-Men Legends game.[21] HAARP was also featured in the animated series G.I. Joe: Resolute and in the first episode of Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura.
The alternative rock band Muse named an album after this facility. HAARP's various antennae also inspired the set design for the performance, which was recorded live at Wembley Stadium.
The progressive metal band The HAARP Machine named their band after the facility.
The film Metal Tornadoes depicts an attempt using HAARP-like technology to harvest energy from solar flares that turns into disaster when the stored energy leaks.
[edit] See also
Ionospheric reflection
EISCAT
HIPAS
Poker Flat Research Range
SuperDARN
Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility
[edit] References
^ a b "HAARP Fact Sheet". HAARP. 15 June 2007. http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/factSheet.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ "Purpose and Objectives of the HAARP Program". HAARP. http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/prpeis.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ a b Naiditch, David (Spring 2003). "Is baked Alaska half-baked?". Skeptic Magazine. http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/10-03-03/#feature. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
^ Pentagon Scientists Target Iran's Nuclear Mole Men
^ http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/publications/2008-03.pdf
^ Reeve, W.D. (2008). "The Lunar Echo Experiment (Part 1)". Radio User 3 (8): 56–58. ISSN 1748-8117.
^ "Technical Information". HAARP. 12 April 2007. http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/tech.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ "The HAARP Antenna Array". HAARP. Archived from the original on 15 April 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070415111323/http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/ant3.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ "Details of the HAARP Antenna Design". HAARP. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070513135131/http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/ant2.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ "The HAARP IRI As Described in the EIS". 17 May 2007. http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/iriEis.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ "Phases of Completion of the IRI". HAARP. Archived from the original on 1 May 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070501131817/http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/phases.html.
^ "HAARP IRI Performance Calculator". 10 May 2010. http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/calciri.html. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
^ Link text
^ B. Isham, C. La Hoz, M. T. Rietveld, F. T. Djuth, T. Hagfors, and T. Grydeland (October 2000). "High Latitude HF-Induced Plasma Turbulence". The First S-RAMP Conference. http://www.kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/s-ramp/abstract/s19.txt. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
^ Weinberger, Sharon (23 April 2008). "Atmospheric physics: Heating up the heavens". Nature. http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080423/full/452930a.html. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
^ Weinberger, Sharon (25 April 2008). "The Strange Life and Times of HAARP". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/04/haarp/. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
^ a b Shachtman, Noah (20 July 2009). "Strange New Air Force Facility Energizes Ionosphere, Fans Conspiracy Flames". Wired Magazine. http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-08/mf_haarp?currentPage=2. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
^ "EU clashes with US over atmosphere tests". physicsworld.com. IOP Publishing, 27 February 1998. http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/3302. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
^ Baenen, Jeff. "Ventura seeks out conspiracy theories at Alaska station". Juneau Empire. http://juneauempire.com/stories/120309/sta_531557452.shtml. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
^ "X-Men Legends Plot". Strategy Wiki. http://strategywiki.org/wiki/X-Men_Legends/Plot. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
[edit] Further reading
Y. Zaitsev (11 May 2007). "From radio telescopes to electromagnetic weapons.". Ria Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070511/65348455.html. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
"Evidence for Precipitation of Energetic Particles by Ionospheric "Heating" Transmissions". National Geophysical Data Center. 7 December 2004. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/Dynasonde/SpEatHeating.htm. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
J. E. Smith (6 May 2006). "HAARP Completed!". Indybay. http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/05/06/18214461.php. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
U. S. Inan and T. F. Bell. "Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS):ULF/ELF/VLF Project". STAR Laboratory, Stanford University. http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/pars/pars.htm. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
U. S. Inan, M. Golkowski, D. L. Carpenter, N. Reddell, R. C. Moore, T. F. Bell, E. Paschal, P. Kossey, E. Kennedy, and S. Z. Meth (2004). "Multi-hop whistler-mode ELF/VLF signals and triggered emissions excited by the HAARP HF heater". Geophysical Research Letters 31 (24): L24805. Bibcode 2004GeoRL..3124805I. doi:10.1029/2004GL021647. http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/publications/2004-06.pdf.
E. J. Kennedy, P. Rodriguez, and C. A. Selcher. "The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program". http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW106. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
H. L. Rowland (28 April 1999). "Simulations of ELF radiation generated by heating the high-latitude D- region". Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, Beam Physics Branch. http://wwwppd.nrl.navy.mil/whatsnew/haarp/. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
Donald Koehler N7MGT, "Secret Death Ray: Or is HAARP a useful science tool?", 73 Magazine (73 Magazine) (December 1999): 14–17,37, http://ia700806.us.archive.org/18/items/73-magazine-1999-12/12_December_1999.pdf, retrieved 21 December 2011 A first person account from an amateur radio operator who got a full tour of the HAARP site.
C. W. Hansell (1945). "Communication system by pulses through the Earth", U.S. Patent 2,389,432.
R. L. Tanner (1965). "Extremely low-frequency antenna", U.S. Patent 3,215,937.
G. F. Leydorf (1966). "Antenna near field coupling system", U.S. Patent 3,278,937.
B. J. Eastlund (1987). "Method and apparatus for altering a region in the Earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and/or magnetosphere", U.S. Patent 4,686,605.
B. J. Eastlund (1991). "Method for producing a shell of relativistic particles at an altitude above the earths surface", U.S. Patent 5,038,664.
[edit] External links
HAARP at EastlundScience.com — website of Bernard Eastlund's Scientific Enterprises Corporation.
HAARP executive summary
GoogleMaps satellite image of HAARP
HAARP – Ангелы и плазмоиды (in Russian)
Coordinates: 62°23′30″N 145°09′00″W / 62.39167°N 145.15°W / 62.39167; -145.15
Magnetospherics
Submagnetosphere
Geosphere
Earth's magnetic field
Polar wind
Atmospheric circulation
Earth's magnetosphere
Plasmasphere
Magnetosphere
Magnetopause
Magnetosphere particle motion
Ring current
Van Allen radiation belt
Birkeland current
Magnetosheath
Magnetosphere chronology
Interplanetary magnetic field
Heliopause
Geomagnetic storm
Coronal mass ejection
Heliospheric current sheet
GEOTAIL
MMS (launch due 2014)
SHARE (Unwin Radar)
Other magnetospheres
Hermian
Ganymedian
Saturnian
Uranian
Planetary rings (Jupiter
Neptune)
Gas torus
Flux tube
Lunar Swirls
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5041834.html
http://presscore.ca/2011/?p=1610
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program
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text:
Kola Loka: A Skater's Story
The retiring Windy City Rollers jammer has a few more chapters to write.
Steven Rodriguez November 11, 2012 Read Comments
Tags: USARS, WFTDA
Now that Gotham Girls Roller Derby have claimed their third Hydra as champions of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the 2012 WFTDA season is, for all intents and purposes, done and dusted.
The offseason gives most players time to take a well-deserved break at the end of a hard year of roller derby. However, for some it also can signal the end of a chapter in their derby careers.
There have been a few high-profile skaters signalling their retirement from the WFTDA this year. To name but a few: Heather Juska, White Flight, Soulfearic Acid, Joy Collision, Hockey Honey, Psycho Babble…and that's just from the west region.
Another player ending her time in the WFTDA is Kola Loka.
Before Kola Loka discovered roller derby and joined Windy City in 2006, she was no stranger to the bouting world. "I was boxing at the time, preparing for the Golden Gloves and I preferred the team aspect of it, but loved the physicality and the training," she said of her derby pre-history.
Like most derby players, she got sucked into the game and found it was right up her alley. According to Kola, what kept her drive for derby alive was "never ending learning curve and the satisfaction of being part of a team that had a goal to win together."
That goal was met year after year, with Windy City going 62-23-1 in WFTDA play from 2007 and staying undefeated in the North Central since the beginning of the WFTDA four-region format in 2008, winning the North Central regional playoff tournament every year since.
Along the way, Kola had some amazing highlights that she'll never forget.
"My favorite experiences are beating Madison at Eastern regionals in 2007 when we were the super-underdog and they were ranked first. It was a thrilling upset that is rare in sports.
"In 2008, at Nationals, in a semifinal game against Texas, I mistakenly called it off when we were tied and we had to go into overtime. My team put me back in to clean up the mess I'd made and I helped win the game in the last minute.
"Afterwards, the crowd lifted me up and chanted my name. I saw my dad crying in the crowd. Nothing can top that."
As one of the top jammers on the Windy City Rollers, Kola Loka knows how to fight her way around the track. (Photo Credit: Joe Rollerfan)
Kola Loka and her team would eventually fall to Gotham and watch them hoist their first Hydra trophy in 2008. But the finals appearance set the tone for Windy City, and after a dominant 11-1 regular season in 2009 they were poised to make another championship run.
By then, Kola was on the sidelines just having given birth to a future roller derby star a few months earlier. But she was ready to cheer on her teammates as any fan of the Rollers would.
However, in their first game at 2009 Nationals, they ran into the Denver Roller Dolls and their new pack-slowing tactics. Much like the booing crowd, Kola Loka was not a happy camper at what she was witnessing.
"It was a shock to see the tactic of just standing there. I screamed myself hoarse."
WCR was bamboozled by the tactic, losing 157-125 in a game that had been labelled as a major upset. As Kola returned to skating form and her team began to decode what happened, the writing was on the wall.
And it wasn't good.
"My team and most teams pretty much hated it and then immediately adopted that style, which was horrifying to me. No one has really since come up with a way to stop it, since the rules don't prevent it."
So as it was clear to everyone in the WFTDA that they only way to beat 'em was to join them, and also partake in the slow game. But Kola Loka didn't want that to happen, if she could help it.
"We have been banging our heads against the wall trying to make other teams skate, while some of them have been figuring out all the ways they can win by not engaging and forcing no packs and out of play."
This began to wear at Kola Loka. Month by month, game by game, teams all over the country began to abandon the hard-skating tactics that drew players like Kola into the sport to begin with. Instead, they preferred to take the most direct route to victory, even if it was being done in a way that was unpopular to fans—or even fellow skaters.
"Players will do anything to win. Some seem to have no compunction about their actions and their consequences. … People are selfish. They would rather win a medal than help our growing sport become fun to play and fun to watch.
"I would always rather have a good time and win than have a crappy time and win. And I would also rather have a good time and lose than have a crappy time and win."
"Even though there are amazing athletes out there, I find that they stop using those athletic abilities during the game too often for me to enjoy playing it with them." – Kola Loka interview on WFTDA.tv
Although she was still proud to be a member of the Windy City Rollers, increasingly Kola began to find out that win or lose, she was starting to have a crappy time playing this slower, more punishing style of game that the WFTDA was rapidly adopting. "As a dedicated jammer, I felt like I was back in boxing, except now I have to keep my hands down while I get hammered in the face, or else I will get a penalty.
"Just no fun."
But as a skater in the WFTDA, a governing body for the skaters, by the skaters, Kola had an opportunity to change things. She was very active in trying to enact gameplay updates to get things back to a state where she could enjoy herself again.
However, Kola soon began to realize that as a single skater, she "doesn't have much of a voice. There are people who represented my whole league, but if I was in a minority—which I usually was—then my voice has no place." Though she acknowledged that representing the majority is the point of a democracy, she recently wondered if even that's true when it comes to the WFTDA.
"The strange thing about this issue is that most people I talk to lately, unlike over the last few years, really hate these slow/no derby tactics. I no longer feel like the minority, but from what I hear on the 'streets,' there are a few leagues in the country whose voices overshadow the rest as WFTDA's decisions are made."
Kola Loka was beyond frustrated with slow derby throughout the 2012 season. The rules update that should have landed in May of this year never came, and like most everyone else in the derby community she was not pleased that she had to continue skating under rules that, according to Kola, made for games so boring they were "like watching paint dry, or maybe like watching a fly die by getting stuck in drying paint."
"I find that when people play in a way that is boring or stops play, it's like winning a battle, but losing the war. To me, the war is making roller derby a sport that can be enjoyed all across the world." – Kola Loka interview on WFTDA.tv
Windy City didn't seem to like getting stuck with current gameplay environment, either, going a disappointing 5-5-1 in the 2012 regular season. There were bright spots for Kola throughout the year—she got to play in the Windy City-Minnesota which was likely the game of the year, and with the help of Sargentina she pulled off a Pegassist to get around a scrum start at the Star of Texas Bowl. ("That was epic and awesome.")
But after running the table in the North Central regional playoff and heading back to the WFTDA Championships, Kola Loka reached a breaking point.
"I hated the way we played and couldn't stand to do it anymore. … This whole season especially, since we lost to Charm by them forming a line and refusing to block, I have been pissed! I wanted to quit that night, but I couldn't let my team down. I felt stuck; quitting was not a good option, and playing this way was excruciating."
With a rock on her left and a hard place on her right, she decided the only thing she could do was press forward and stick with her team for one last shot at a Hydra. Unfortunately, despite her leading Windy City in scoring with 48 points, Windy City fell 212-125, ending their chances and simultaneously ending Kola Loka's time in the WFTDA.
Kola admitted that—very much unlike their meeting three years ago—her final WFTDA tilt against Denver was "a fun game." But when the final whistle sounded, she got to let her true feelings be known.
"I was just hoping for a good game. When it was over, I was so happy. Nationals was my end goal, and I was relieved. I have been waiting for this for a long time.
"I felt free."
Finally released from the shackles that have been the restrictive and unpopular style of game she was forced to play, seemingly against her will, she was free to speak her mind about what she really thought about things.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) the first person to ask her opinion was holding a WFTDA.tv microphone while standing in front of a camera that broadcasting the live video stream to thousands of roller derby players and fans around the world.
To see Kola talk about the state of "slow derby" play, click here to go to the Windy City/Denver archive on WFTDA.tv and skip ahead to 1:28:30.
"They asked me why I was quitting and I said that I was done playing a game that was confusing for fans and frustrating and dangerous for me. I wanted to see the amazing athletes in WFTDA do what their positions said: blockers block, and jammers jam. I think teams who win by disengaging from the pack are winning the battle, but losing the war to make derby a fan friendly game.
"I also said that I am not retiring from derby, just the WFTDA, and that people will most likely see me playing 'somewhere else.'"
People have told Kola that after they heard her comments, they were "encouraged" by her "strong stance." But still, there was an open question of what exactly she meant when she said she wanted to play "somewhere else" now that she was finished with the WFTDA.
"I like what USARS is doing a lot. They asked everyone in derby to get together—even though WFTDA declined more than once—and create a ruleset with a goal in mind of making a fun to watch, easy to understand and 'safe' to play roller derby. If skaters feel the same way, let's go play USARS. All you need is a USARS membership and a place to play. There's no reason teams in WFTDA can't play; they already are. And from what I've heard from them, they are loving it.
"I can't wait to try out the USARS rules and see what the next chapter of my derby life will be."
As Kola Loka starts to look at what her options are going forward, she can't help but look back at her time with the WFTDA. And while she appreciates what the WFTDA is, she's come to realize that it's not the roller derby organization for her.
"I have no regrets and am so happy to be done playing that nonsense. I don't want to be a part of an organization that is for the skaters, by the skaters. I want to be a part of a sports organization that makes decisions having a goal in mind to grow the sport as a viable option for fans interested in viewing the amazing skating talent out there."
Kola believes this despite the updated rules coming down the pipeline, as she isn't confident it will do much to address the major issues she feels are holding the game back.
"There were some options that were voted down … that would have been an improvement. The simple idea that you should create a skating direction, and skaters should have to skate that way, were not approved. Eliminating minors is going to help the crowd and the refs, but the standing around, waiting for the jammers to return to the "pack" and then watching while the jammer struggles alone to push the front out to 20…
"I guess if it wins people medals, that's fine for them."
So although she is glad she's leaving the WFTDA behind, she's going to dearly miss the Windy City Rollers.
"My teammates want me to stay, and I wish I could. They are an amazing bunch of athletes and women who are in a tough position. WCR is a classy organization. They are my family and I will miss everything about them, just not the WFTDA style of play they are forced to play.
"Roller derby has been the most fun sport I have ever played, and I have played many. I am not done playing roller derby."
And if Kola Loka has it her way, her she isn't done writing her roller derby story.
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There are alternatives!
"They asked me why I was quitting and I said I was done playing a game that was confusing for fans and frustrating and dangerous for me."
::clapclapclap::
I'm not going to cheerlead for any particular alternative out there, but as a person who has been involved with them for years now I can say it's very heartening to read of and speak with more and more people like her (and entire leagues) that are realizing there are alternative styles of play out there that never have paying spectators booing out of boredom and frustration, have simple rules focusing on what can be done instead of what can't be done which eliminate loopholes, and are played in a manner that actually cares about player safety (yeah, let's have meaningless pre-game equipment checks because we care but allow skaters to fly into stand-still blockers or even fly into each other from opposite directions), and feature bouts where the skaters still skate and are having a great time doing so.
It's amazing what happens when one stops drinking the cool aide and actually takes the time to look into the alternatives out there with an open mind.
Want to have fun again? Look into the alternatives.
I don't know Kola personally at all. All I do know is that she's been crying about dynamic strategies since they lost that bout to Denver, while everyone else has been adapting and finding ways to combat it. If anyone watched Champs this year, they'd know there were fast packs more often than there were slow packs, and there was never a bout lacking excitement. This is what the best teams in the world are doing, and if you can't adjust to force fast packs when its your advantage, then you're not going to be one of the best teams.
It's not Slow Derby at the top level. It's Dynamic Derby. It's far more interesting than it ever was in the days of Pack Racing.
Derby Fann
Sure. Let's also just "adapt" to global warming instead of doing something to fix it or revert the damage. And fans should also "adapt" to just sitting there watching people who they came to see skate doing the opposite. I mean, what is wrong with us fans? Can't we adapt? It is like saying: we are going to give you a crappy product and you are just going to keep buying it and adapt.
NO! This is the mentality of derby people who does not give a damn about us fans and precisely what is stopping this great sport from reaching its potential. If you are one of the cult followers and don't have the balls to disagree with your beloved know-it-all organization, don't poop on others who do. I admire Kola Loka for having a mind of her own and standing up for what she believes.
I'm pooping on Windyman for using Kola Loka to promote his USARS rules that he loves so much, even though everyone hates the pack racing game more than slow derby.
I'm pooping on Kola for (at least in the tone Windyman gave her in this article) crying about not being able to play the style she wants to play but refusing to learn the strategies that can fight it. It's not about not adopting the strategy, it's about not adapting to the strategy and learning where it is weak and how to break through it. All the top teams at Champs have learned how to do that, and they did it in Atlanta. To compare to your example, it's like seeing global warming occurring and trying to say "Well, let's just stop using energy" instead of "Well, let's change the way we use energy so that we stop contributing to the problem."
WindyMan
They are not "my" rules. They are USARS' rules. And USARS have only played games for about a month; to think their rules will stay bad forever is ridiculous.
I am a supporter of roller derby. USARS is playing roller derby, so I am a supporter of them, just like I support MRDA, RDCL, MADE, OSDA, and yes, even the WFTDA. Stop making this about me, because it isn't.
Knock it off.
No. "Let's just stop using energy" would be retiring from roller derby and not playing again. It is like pooping on someone for buying an electric car, she is not quitting driving cars, she is going for an alternative. If you watch the interview, she mentions that she tried "adapting" for three years, pretty much like all of us fans. I am as frustrated and have been for a while too. And finally, saying that she "refused to learn the strategies" is so wrong and disrespectful of all the work these athletes do. Giving the fact that she was in Atlanta in one of the top 12 teams in the world and was the lead scorer for her team, she probably did learn the strategies, it was simply "no fun" to do so.
nocklebeast
This is a photo I took at Westerns, which probably qualifies as top level play. I don't think "dynamic" is the correct word to describe it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nocklebeast/8061539729/
To be fair to Rat City… all the teams employed this strategy of watching their jammer skate by as they stand there. This is part of top level derby in the WFTDA today.
To steal shamelessly from Inigo Montoya when it comes to your affinity for the word "dynamic" – I do not think it means what you think it means.
Most people would associate "dynamic" with constant motion, vigorous force, productive energy, and or being energetic. Since the style of game at question here is more standing around, slow pushing, slow sausage walls, etc perhaps a better adjective would be lethargic … granted, it's lethargy packed full of nifty strategy I suppose, but it's lethargic none the less.
To each thier own I suppose. I'm just glad to see more and more people every day putting down the cool aide and realizing there's still fun to be had out there.
I read dynamic to mean the opposite of static. like ever changing? I could be off the mark here. personally, I feel when Derby is static its boring. ie JUST standing there or JUST racing the other team. a good game, to me, has both slow and fast elements. I think 2012 WFTDA champs definitely delivered.
for the record, I've skated both USARS and WFTDA games and feel like neither one is the "right" answer. USARS has HUGE SCREAMING flaws also.
She's not 'crying' N8. She's competing, fiercely, and has spent years doing so, and trying to make a positive change for a sport. As someone who has spent a couple of years volunteering most of my free time to create media that promotes this sport, I can confirm that in my experience, slow derby (or 'dynamic derby' if you prefer) is not fun for new fans and is helping to shrink the sport (in terms of fans that are not family and friends), rather than grow it.
I watched several games at champs this year. Loved 'em. Great roller derby. There was fast play, there was slow play, there were teams using whatever strategies they could to out smart and out skate their opponents. Best tournament I've seen in awhile.
I'm always surprised to hear people poop on WFTDA. I think WFTDA is great. We'll all miss them when USARS takes over the sport and instead of "By the skater, for the skater" it's "By the skater, for some elderly, wealthy, white dude".
Yes, the athletes that play at that level are amazing and it is awesome to watch them. Nobody has any complaints or criticisms about how good they are. In fact, that is probably the only reason why we are still watching. But it does not mean that some of these skaters are not being forced to do something they might not like, as this interview suggests. If you are one of the blockers that likes to stand on the side instead of doing your job (blocking), or a jammer who must push through masses of stopped people being hit in the face, then by all means stay with WFTDA and make their motto come true by having "the skaters" being the only ones watching.
Once again, most skaters just don't get it. It is not "for the skaters by the skaters" any longer. In the "for" side you must include the fans who pay to watch and in the "by" you must include all the people who make it possible, refs, nso's, track setup, volunteers, announcers, etc. When WFTDA realizes this and does something about it, they will stop being criticized so much.
And saying that USARS is somehow run by "some elderly, wealthy, white dude" is very ignorant. They are not private, they are associated to the Olympic Committee and by law (Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1978 – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_Sports_Act_of_1978) they must maintain amateur level. In fact, there is a greater chance that WFTDA turns professional than USARS. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid (like alternatives! said), repeating whatever you hear someone else say and doing whatever everyone else is doing.
The Original Donald
WFTDA's motto is "when it comes to the fans all WE CARE about is their money."
Daniel Eddington
I saw several great bouts LIVE at Atlanta approx two weeks ago. Yes, there were fast packs, there was hard hits, but there also were scrum starts, an mostly abandoned pivot line, conga lines, stopped play, and a 44 point record setting bout changing jam. How did that 44 point jam occur? stopped play. I would actually argue, without stats to back me up just my impression, that Direction of Game play and Multi-player blocks were the majority of penalties called due to stopped play and scrum starts.
I would actually argue, without stats to back me up just my impression, that Direction of Game play and Multi-player blocks were the majority of penalties called due to stopped play and scrum starts.
Luckily, I have the stats to back you up!
I'm going to save the full-blown analysis of these penalty stats for my 2013 WFTDA rules analysis (if the rules update pans out how I think it will), but here are the per-game penalty averages for all 80 playoff games this year, as calculated by me:
Major penalties:
Out of Play Block – 9.14 per game
Cutting – 6.85
Forearm – 4.78
Low Block – 4.28
Back Block – 3.45
High Block – 3.13
Total majors per game (avg) – 40
Minor penalties:
Clockwise block – 34 per game
Forearm – 24
Out of Play block – 21
Multiplayer block – 21
Cutting – 16
Back Block – 16
Total minors per game (avg) – 163
Just a caveat, but I assume those come from the Rinxter stats which are not the official penalty stats. Rinxter's other stats are official, but they (WFTDA) still haven't switched to it for penalties yet. Short version, there's an unofficial Rinxter person hanging out trying to catch the best they can, and there are the standard official paper trackers. The Rinxter stats get about 80% of the penalties I would say, but mileage will definitely vary.
I don't know if/when the official stats ever get put up into the Rinxter archive, but since it's only been 10 days I'll assume they haven't done it yet. I could be wrong though.
Ah, didn't know that. Still, if the public Rinxter repository is only getting 80% of the penalties called, then that would make the true penalty stats even worse.
Todd Bradley
Yeah, it seems some penalties are missing from your list – no elbows and no insubordination.
I didn't list those because they weren't the "top" penalties. But since you mentioned insubordination, I was quite surprised to see there were 40 total insub penalties in 80 games. Combined with 46(!) Gross Misconducts, and chances are you were going to see at least one instance of naughty play every game.
To me, that was the most surprising penalty stat of them all.
Another view point
So let me get this right. Windy gives up 10 power jams to Charm's 0 and then Kola Loka complains that they lost because Charm used passive offence against them? Charm using passive offence was what frustrated her? Not the 10 trips to the box she and her fellow jammers made?
Windy only lost by 36 points. As a fan watching, it wasn't Charm's tactics that I found frustrating. It was the lack of discipline on Windy's side.
Where is the hue and cry demanding that jammers up their game and take less penalties? That would reduce most instances of passive offence.
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Sir SkateAlot
I wonder how it is possible that we see so many exciting games lately if the (WFTDA) rules suck that much. We had a tournament last weekend in Antwerp Belgium. Good level of play but not the top level you see at regionals and nationals. Skaters had the best time of their life. The fans got wild from excitement as most bouts where great to watch. First time spectators came to tell me that this was a really exciting sport. And there were a lot of passive agressive powerjams during this tournament. But no one complained about it.
If you're playing soccer but you prefer a ruleset where you can pick up the ball with your hands, change sports and play rugby. But don't start shitting on the soccer rules by crying everywhere that they suck and should be changed.
WFTDA has a ruleset that produce great games if the skills of the teams are not to far apart. If the skills levels are to different you have dull games, but that's the case in any sport.
Not to be rough on Belgium or any other place, but you bring up a really good example of what the sport is going through. So many skaters in the world have never played under any rules other than the sausage-prone WFTDA set. There are few teams in Europe that have been around before that, London, Berlin, and yes, Ghent, among others. But in reality, most of the skaters are "new" to derby and they don't realize that the sport was faster and more exciting before. To be fair, the rules might be worse, but the current skaters tend to be much more skilled than in the past, equipment is safer and better, officials are top-notch and a lot of the non-sport elements have been eliminated. Everything has evolved, but the rules and the stupid "for the skater by the skater" cult.
You see it now in Junior Derby, and I cannot stand it. Juniors play sausage derby because they don't know any better, because that is what we have now. They don't have any idea of what an alternative might look like, other than maybe watching some old videos of the original WFTDA founding teams, when derby was good. This is disheartening and I really hope that someone does something to at least show these skaters that they do not have to skate that way.
In the other hand, I find it very disrespectful of you to advocate for switching sports, this is not your exclusive sport. But just to refute your example since you don't know the history of sports, I am going to elaborate on what you said. In soccer, they have changed many rules over the years, like for example the offside rule. At the beginning of the nineteenth century anyone who was in front of the ball was "off his side" (that is why it is called offside), which is how rugby is played. This was not an offensive game, so later on they changed the rule to be "behind four opponents", which increased the offensive abilities of the teams, but not enough. The biggest change was to go from four to "behind two opponents". This single rule change made the sport go from 1800 goals scored in 1924 to 4700 goals in 1925 and 6400 in 1926 (same number of games). The popularity of the sport exploded after this, why? because fans like goals. In derby, fans like blocks, jumps and speed, not standing around.
There are examples of rule changes in every sport, the 20-second rule in basketball, "forward passes" in american football, overarm bowling in cricket, etc. Of course, for each one of these, there was always a group of people who did not want to change, who said to others "change sports", who did not have a vision of how the sport could be better, that is you my friend. But the rules will change, we will reach standardization and the sport will continue to improve. It is just a shame that the innovators and leaders always have to drag and fight people like you.
Derbyfan
I think you need to separate the sausage from things like the scrum start, scrum starts require huge amounts of balance, strength, power and teamwork from the blockers, they are very physical environments. As well as masses of explosive forceful energy from jammers. All while not committing penalties and as long as two jammers are in play they also require the blockers to execute offensive and defensive strategy at the same time. The sausage is a problem, but don't forget the defensive team and the jammer are working very hard, good teams have learned to exert a lot of concentrated force on jammers and bridge to prevent the pack from splitting all of which takes heaps of effort, and any jammer who has pushed out a well co ordinated 4 wall with no help from her team will tell you it is not easy or painless! But yes the offensive team is essentially doing nothing and this is a big problem. I find it interesting that the upcoming RDX in Australia who plan to host big well promoted for profit events on the banked track killed the existing pack definition rule in 5 seconds flat. It will be interesting to see how those games go.
As1f
Sydney, Australia – dull as. Those that liked it have never seen anything better, especially here.
Angus Con
Funny, when I watch the bouts from 2009 involving my old team, Denver, the game wasn't that slow. That's just a mob mentality opinion as far as I'm concerned, (especially when the opinion comes from Windy City). Watch one of those games and watch a game now; it's night and day. I also think it's funny that teams today think they're going to beat Gotham by playing Gotham's style. That defines insanity. Rule changes won't fix things. Just sayin'.
I also find it interesting that 2008 was so vividly beloved when 2008 was the year of intentional pack destruction. If my memory serves, both Windy and Gotham were big fans of taking a knee to destroy the pack to get their jammers out, which was just pathetic to watch (when they ended up #1 and #2 at nationals that year coincidentally). There was no penalty for pack destruction that year, only for failure to reform. So let's not go pretending like this failure to engage crap is a recent phenomenon or that Denver started it in 09. Kola got a medal from playing a different version of a non-engagement strategy. The rules closed that loophole going into 2009. Hugs!
Trent Rasinor
Anyone ever consider shortening the length of penalties down from one minute?
April O'Hare Photography
DING DING DING! Specifically jammer penalties.
well, I stop criticizing slow play and look what happens…..love the WFTDA teams but now there is choice with a stronger USARS. I will be at the national championship tournament in Fresno on December 14-16 along with Oly and some other leagues. Ant the Championship trophy is the Seltzer Cup, named after the founder of the sport.. hopefully it will be on DNN. The play at the WFTDA championships was mostly amazing, but these are all great teams. and leagues who are concerned about fans should be concerned about the style of the game they are presenting….If attendance goes down, it isn't the fans' fault.
And Mac, if you were thinking about me as being the elderly white guy with USARS who would take over the sport, sorry, I had my chance 40 years ago.
Now if we could just get rid of the power jams, stopping, and have 1 minute jams.
Well, we will in MY game (see you tube, 1970 Roller Derby rules).
And I sort of wrote about this topic today at http://www.rollerderbyjesus.com.
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Warren Semble
Do like the NHL did with the powerplay in the 70's. The Canadiens could regularly score 2 or 3 goals on a 2 minute penalty, and thus create blow outs.
Yes they had great teams and won many Stanley Cups in that era. The NHL realized that more than 1 goal in a powerplay was penalizing teams more than was fair to fit the crime. A 5 minute major still to this day allows as many goals to be scored as a team can get, as it is a more serious foul.
WFTDA should determine what is an acceptable amount of points to be scored on a powerjam, and if that occurs before the penalty time is up, release the penalized jammer.
This wouldn't solve the human centipede (sausage) problem, but could keep games to more even scores.
Call it dynamic strategy, call it passive offense, call it what you want. It's still BULLSHIT and is ruining the game.
I used to bring friends to bouts for their first time a few years back, trying to get more people to see this awesome sport I fell in love with in 2008. I don't even bother anymore. Now I dread, some nights going to NSO. I go to help so the ladies can play, I can't just walk out like a discouraged paying fan.
This to me is a really sad state of affairs, and it breaks my heart. Some of the best derby I've seen in the last couple of years are pickup bouts where these teams and coaches agree to not play passive offense. Skaters skate, blockers block, its fast, entertaining and everyone involved leaves with huge smiles on their faces.
The NHL realized that more than 1 goal in a powerplay was penalizing teams more than was fair to fit the crime. A 5 minute major still to this day allows as many goals to be scored as a team can get, as it is a more serious foul.
Your comparison is incorrect here. To equate WFTDA derby's power jam problem with hockey correctly, imagine if a team's goaltender got removed from the ice to serve a penalty and the penalized team wasn't allowed to clear the puck out of their defensive end. It's pretty much a guarantee the team with their goalie in the box is going to get scored on, especially since the defense can't do anything to give themselves some breathing room, such as ice the puck.
But this "problem" goes away when both goalies are on the ice at all times, which is exactly what the rules of hockey mandate. Original roller derby rules required each team have a jammer on the track at all times (the game was designed this way to begin with) which would unsurprisingly make lopsided power jams non-existent. This isn't possible with the instant-off penalties the modern game employs, but there are ways of getting around that other rulesets are using via pack definition, pivots abilities, and so on.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl