Apparent Ground Traces assoc. with 11/96 CE4's
Date of Event: Mid Nov, 1996
Note: Estimated date either Sunday 10 Nov or Wednesday 13 Nov, based upon WX records.
Location: Witness's residence in rural Eau Claire, WI
Classification: AN2, possibly associated with CE4.
Local Evaluation: TBD explanation status - Investigation in progress.
Significance: Normal significance
Sighting Account:
The ground traces are associated with one or
more CE4 events which occurred in November of 1996. The witness
felt that the date of discovery was a few days after her
"pulled out of bed" CE4. However this correlation is
not certain. Since the correlation between this trace and
possible accompanying sighting(s) is not well established, this
is listed as a separate event.
The accompanying photographs were taken TBD
on the day of discovery. This was approximately two days before
the first snow in Nov 1996. The witness could not remember the
actual time and circumstances of discovery.
[CL Note: Records from the National Climatic
data center indicate that the first snow was on 15 Nov, 1996.
Thus the date of discovery would have been on 13 Nov, 1996.
However, the witness also indicated that she though the
discovery occurred on a Sunday, which would have been 10 Nov,
1996].
Photograph of initial ground traces:
Second Ground Trace:
The witness indicates that a second trace was
discovered on her lawn at the approximate location of the first
trace. The photographs were taken on the date at which the
first snow of November, 1997 melted. Weather records indicate
that this would have been on the approximate date of Monday 24
Nov, 1997 +/- one day. [CL Note: need to determine date/time of
second trace more closely].
It is not know whether this second trace is
due to a separate event, or whether it is an effect of the
process which resulted in the first traces.
Investigation Details:
The investigators visited the site on 24 Jan,
1998. Due to snow cover, the ground on which the traces were
reported was not visible. Thus no samples were gathered.
However, we took instrument readings using Geiger counter (Union
Carbide Nuclear Rate Meter), and low-frequency electromagnetic
field meter (Alpha Labs Tri-Field Meter). These were taken on a
walk-through from the front of the house, northward, toward the
area in proximity of the traces, with measurements also taken on
the eastern part of the property, and depicts the walk-through
paths during the instrument readings. No anomalous
electromagnetic or nuclear radiation readings were detected
during these measurements.
A walk-through was also conducted while
monitoring the possible deflection of a compass needle. This
walk-through showed no anomalous readings, with the exception of
the area around the traces. We noted a possible deflection of
the compass needle as we walked over the exact location of the
traces. However, this reading was ambiguous and will require
more sensitive equipment to verify. The initial readings were as
follows: Walking from E to W, no deflection was observed until
approximately 4 feet from the trace location. Beginning at about
4 feet to the E of the trace, the deflection to the E appeared
to increase as the compass approached the center of the trace.
At the center of the trace, this deflection appeared to reach a
maximum. Exiting trace area to the W, deflection appeared to
lessen. When reversing our path, we observed the same
deflection pattern, except with the needle apparently deflecting
to the west.
We were unable to reproduce this effect on
the second attempt. Thus, the reading may have been caused by
errors in measurement due to limitations of alignment of the
compass with true north.
Craig Lang returned to the site on 20 June,
1998, taking more accurate data using a compass, a DC
magnetometer, and a DC electric field meter. These readings were
taken along a survey line laid out along from east to west
across the trace site. This time no anomalous magnetic or
electric field readings were detected. No ground traces were
present on the second visit , so samples were not collected.
Other Possibilities:
We are investigating the possibility that
there might be some type of underground metallic object(s) in
the area which could have caused the ground traces, possibly
underground electrical cables, etc.. However, the mechanism by
which such an object could cause the observed ground traces is
not understood.
Evaluation:
TBD - investigation is in progress.
Note: Since the traces are no longer
present, detailed analysis is no longer possible.