ANNEX "Microwave effects - Microwave radiation is nonionizing, so it does not affect biological materials in the way that ultraviolet, X-ray or nuclear radiation does. Its major effect on living tissue is heating caused by microwave absorption. If tissue is heated beyond certain limits, damage will result. . . . The peak intensity of the microwave beam reaching the Earth from a geosynchronous power plant is less than 1000 W/m^, and the intensity drops to less than 100 W/m? at the edge of the antenna. Beneath the antenna the intensity is less than 10 Wm?, so microwave intensities around and beneath the receiving antenna are completely safe for humans and wildlife. Occupants of metal-skinned, light aircraft flying through the beam would experience microwave intensities of 20-40 W/m? at the center, equal to the intensity of sunlight. Since the total exposure time is less than 5 minutes, it is doubtful that any damage would result. Birds will find that above the central region of the antenna they become uncomfortably warm, so they are expected to avoid that area. The animal experiments showed that the irradiated animals made every possible effort to remove themselves from the microwave field. Thus, although considerable specific investigation is required, particularly with respect to birds, the microwave beam should be safe both with respect to people and other forms of life. . . . The environmental impacts of geosynchronous power plants would be limited to the atmospheric effects of the space transportation system that raised the plant to orbit, atmospheric effects from the microwave power transmission system, and possibly a slight increase in local rainfall in the vicinity of the receiver/ converter on Earth, similar to the heat-island effects of cities." J. Richard Williams, "Geosynchronous Satellite Solar Power," in H. J. Killian, G. L. Dugger, and J. Grey, eds.. Solar Energy for Earth, an AIAA Assessment, pp. 69-70, April 21, 1975.
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