The Thomas Townsend Brown Family Website

January 24, 1983

Mr. T. Townsend Brown
Post Office Box 1545
Avalon, California 90704

Dear Mr. Brown,

With reference to your inquiry to professor G. regarding electrochemica reactions influenced by radiation, I have two reactions. First, considering high energy radiation, under controlled laboratory conditions, electronic and electrical phenomena can be made to vary in response to low levels of radiation. These processes, as exemplified by everything from Geiger counters to dosimeters, to solid state detectors, respond because of the ability of radiation to ionize matter. However, many of these phenomena are transien phenomena whose effects are rapidly dissapated. On the other hand, reactions involving solutions of chemicals require massiely greater doses of radiation.

Given these constraints, I find it hard to envision a process wherein the very low levels of high energy radiation from space which reach the surface could effect an electrochemical reaction.

With regard to low energy radiation such as light or infrared, I cannont begin to imagine that they are responsible for the effects you describe in view of the large amounts which are normally present and subject to large natural variations.

Clearly, although no one has the answer at this time, I would first look to an explanation based on atmospheric physics before I would explore the possibility of an electrochemical reaction.

Sincerely,

G.R.
Professor of Minerology