From: John Rimmer <j.rimmer.nul>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:32:37 +0100
Archived: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:56:21 -0400
Subject: Re:  Crop Circles Discussion


>From: Paul Scott Anderson <paulscottanderson.nul>
>To: ufoupdates.nul
>Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 09:05:55 -0700
>Subject: Re: Crop Circles Discussion

>>From: John Rimmer <j.rimmer.nul>
>>To: <ufoupdates.nul>
>>Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:36:15 +0100
>>Subject: Re: Crop Circles Discussion

>>I have got no problems at all with the idea that certain
>>meteorological conditions will create circular depressions in
>>standing crops. Some of these circles will probably have sharp
>>edges. However they do not seem to be a very frequent occurance,
>>largely of interest to meteorologists and to a lesser degree
>>farmers, and I don't see any reason to get particularly worked
>>up about them.

>It would still be an interesting phenomenon, because 'normal'
>meteorological effects like dust devils, tornadoes, etc. typically
>produce roughly circular patches, but not sharp-edged circles
>with elegant, spiralling lay patterns. Complex lay patterns have
>been seen and documented even in the simplest of circles
>sometimes.

<snip>

>Even if it did turn out that only the simpler circles were
>genuine, with a natural origin, because of their physical
>characteristics it would probably point to some previously
>little known or understood meteorological phenomenon. Perhaps
>not exactly like what Terence Meaden first proposed back in the
>80s (the plasma-vortex), but maybe similar. Would learning about
>that be pointless? I think not.

No, learning more about uncommon meteorological phenomena will
always be of interest to specialists. But I doubt that such a
phenomenon on its own is enought to support the vast crop-circle
industry which has grown up over the last 20 years or so.

And, as I have pointed out before, we cannot be sure that
historical accounts actually occured literally as described or
are all referring to the same type of event.

However, as you seem to accept that the complex modern 'crop-
circle phenomenon' is entirely man-made, and I do not think
there is too much point in arguing the details of a very small
number of reports from a hundred years ago or more, it strikes
me that there is far less a difference of opinion between us
that seemed apparent at first.



John Rimmer
<j.rimmer.nul>




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