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].

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.

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.

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.

TBD - investigation is in progress.

Note: Since the traces are no longer present, detailed analysis is no longer possible.