Is a system that triggers earthquakes from a distance possible? What science says about HAARP claims

According to an investigation by Doğruluk Payı, claims that HAARP—often referred to in the public eye as an "earthquake machine"—can trigger earthquakes are not supported by scientific data. These claims, which frequently recirculate following major earthquakes, contradict both the technical capacity of HAARP and the formation mechanisms of earthquakes.

HAARP claims became widespread in Turkey, particularly after the August 17, 1999, Gölcük Earthquake. In subsequent years, they have returned to the agenda through statements by political figures and social media users. The claims made by former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek regarding the Gölcük Earthquake, involving "earthquake machines" and foreign research vessels, remain among the frequently cited examples of this debate.

WHAT IS HAARP AND WHY WAS IT ESTABLISHED?

HAARP, which stands for High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, is an ionospheric research project launched in 1993. Supported by the US Air Force, the US Navy, DARPA, and the University of Alaska, the project was established to study the ionosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that plays a significant role in the transmission of radio waves.

At the heart of the project are high-frequency radio waves used to temporarily excite a small portion of the ionosphere. Over time, this technical infrastructure has been the subject of various conspiracy theories, such as changing weather, disabling satellites, mind control, or creating earthquakes. However, according to the investigation, these claims are not consistent with HAARP's actual field of work.

It is specifically emphasized that HAARP is a fixed facility located in Gakona, Alaska, and is not a portable system. The facility's antenna array, known as the Ionospheric Research Instrument, consists of 180 antennas and has a maximum transmission power of approximately 3.5 MW. It is stated that this capacity is far too low to be compared with the energy required to create large-scale physical changes in the Earth's crust.

According to calculations shared by Doğruluk Payı, for HAARP to heat an object located 7,500 kilometers away and only 50 meters under the sea by 1 degree Celsius, it would need to operate at maximum power for 420,000 quadrillion years. This duration is far beyond the approximately 13.8 billion-year age of the Universe. Therefore, it is considered practically impossible for HAARP to significantly change the temperature or physical properties of objects from a distance.

EARTHQUAKES ARE NOT CAUSED BY RADIO WAVES

Earthquakes occur as a result of the relative movements of tectonic plates in the lithosphere. The release of energy accumulated during the friction, compression, or sliding of plates in opposite directions can lead to destructive earthquakes. This process operates as a natural mechanism dependent on massive volumes and long geological timeframes.

The investigation states that it is impossible to trigger tectonic structures of this magnitude with high-frequency radio waves. While human-induced seismicity is theoretically possible, it is noted that this does not occur via radio waves, but rather through physical interventions such as pumping fluids into the Earth's crust, and usually results in earthquakes of limited magnitude. Processes such as dams or large construction projects that could be associated with major earthquakes require activities on a scale that cannot be carried out in secret.

Another pillar of the HAARP rumors is the claim that the fault lines in Turkey are the "same" as the San Andreas Fault in the US, and therefore experiments could be conducted. However, the source reminds us that the term "San Antonio" mentioned in some past statements was also incorrect; the reference was intended for the San Andreas Fault, which runs along California.

Although there are some similarities between the San Andreas Fault and the North Anatolian Fault in terms of transform fault character and plate movements, it is stated that the two systems have significant differences in their seismic behavior, frequency distribution, and tectonic dynamics. Therefore, interpretations that accept the two fault lines as identical and generate "experiment" claims from this premise find no scientific basis.

According to the assessment of Ümran Savaş İnan, former rector of Koç University, who conducts research on geophysics and low-frequency radio waves at Stanford University, the power of the waves emitted by HAARP remains at a negligible level compared to the energy of atmospheric natural phenomena. İnan states that those who argue that HAARP can influence natural events lack scientific knowledge.

The fact that HAARP was closed to visitors in the past is also considered one of the elements fueling the "mysterious" perception of the facility. However, the facility opened its doors to visitors in 2016; these visits did not reveal any findings to confirm the conspiracy theories. HAARP, for which US military support was cut in 2014, was transferred to the University of Alaska in 2015. Today, the facility serves as a scientific research infrastructure that researchers can use under specific conditions.

In conclusion, the investigation reveals that the claim that HAARP has the capacity to generate earthquakes or trigger fault lines in Turkey from a distance is devoid of scientific basis. The real determining factor regarding earthquake risk is not conspiracy theories, but active fault lines, structural safety, disaster preparedness, and public policies based on scientific data.

News Source: 12punto