“but rather enough things, particularly the controls for long line electrical distribution (i.e. the grid) get fried”
No. They’ve already factored into the grid. You and your fellow EMP smarter-than-the-rest-of-us crowd obviously haven’t a clue what you are talking about, but it sure sounds like a drama queen’s wet dream.
Code —
You’re good at insults, but as someone who is so well educated, you know the Compton effect well enough to understand WHY the physically long wires of high voltage distribution lines ARE good receiving antennae for induced voltage of EMP.
The entire grid does not have to to fail because of EMP in order for for the network to have real issues. Cascade failures are a known issue. Yes, it’s gotten better.
Other studies HAVE shown that modern cars, for example are NOT terribly susceptible to EMP. Thus the details of “One Second After” represent an exaggeration. When you look at the vulnerabilities of a complex system, the electrical grid just happens to be one of the more vulnerable ones.
Does if take a POWERFUL EMP? yes. CAN it be caused by a nuke? YES. *IS* it possible? yes. Is it plausible? YES.
Is it likely? THAT is open to debate.
and yes, I do have a clue.
Perhaps I should send you in particular another NACK.