3.7.1: Are crop circles made by "vortices"?
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This article is from the Scientific Skepticism FAQ, by Paul Johnson Paul@treetop.demon.co.uk with numerous contributions by others.
3.7.1: Are crop circles made by "vortices"?
Probably not. There are a number of meteorologists who believe that
crop circle formations are created by rare natural forces such as
"ionised plasma vortices". Basically, winds blowing across rolling
hills sometimes form eddies, which in some circumstances (that have
never been quantified) become strong, downward spiralling drafts that
lay down the crop. Cerealogists claim to have over two dozen witnesses
to such events. Unfortunately, many more have said they have seen
flying saucers do the same thing.
Scientific articles arguing for the reality of these vortices have
appeared regularly in the Journal of Meteorology. But its editor is
the leading proponent of the theory, Dr. Terence Meaden.
Winds can lay down crop in patches known as lodging. But geometric
patterns in fields can hardly be attributable to natural phenomena.
Meaden has changed his theory to first accommodate complex circles,
ovals and even triangles (!), but now admits that most circles are
hoaxes and the theory can only explain simpler patterns.
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