Posted on 04/01/2009 6:15:33 PM PDT by FromLori
I would be interested if someone would like to explain to me the physics of how this works. Canada has grid problems sometimes because of aurora activity - I believe the long, high tension wires basically act as antennas. So would an EMP only affect the grid? Would your battery powered radio be fine - or even your whole house, if it was protected against surges?
OK, the dangers are real, but ...
to say “all our household devices likely catch fire” is over the top.
It would take some extraordinary mega-tonnage airburst to cause that.
To be credible, you have to realistically present the danger.
Yes the effects to society and commerce as we know it are catastrophic. Just don’t resort to hyperbole.
That includes teleprompters.
Maybe people should try actually reading the entire article it goes a long way in explaining things for example heres just a tidbit...
On February 3rd, Iran launched a “communications satellite” into orbit. At this very moment, North Korea is threatening to do the same. The ability to launch an alleged communications satellite belies a far more frightening truth. A rocket that can carry a satellite into orbit can also drop a nuclear warhead over any location on the planet in less than forty-five minutes.
Far too many timid or uninformed sources maintain that a single launch of a missile poses no true threat to the United States given our retaliatory power. A reality check is in order and must be discussed in response to such an absurd claim:
One small nuclear weapon, delivered by an ICBM can, in fact, destroy the United States by maximizing the effect of the resultant electromagnetic pulse upon detonation.
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a by-product of detonating an atomic bomb above the Earth’s atmosphere. When a nuclear weapon is detonated in space, the gamma rays emitted trigger a massive electrical disturbance in the upper atmosphere. Moving at the speed of light, this overload will short out all electrical equipment, power grids and delicate electronics on the earth’s surface. In fact, it would take only one to three weapons exploding above the continental United States to wipe out our entire grid and transportation network. It might take years to recover from, if ever.
This is not science fiction. If you doubt this, spend a short amount of time skimming the Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack from April 2008. You will come away sobered.
No, anything unshielded from electromagnetic force is vulnerable, due to high inducted voltages/currents. A good ground helps a lot. A Farrady cage (like a bird cage) is a decent shield.
But even if your stuff was shielded, it’s not likely that any usual sources would be broadcasting for a while. There’d be nuthin’ to listen to for a while. Also the atmosphere would be really ‘noisy’ for quite a while.
EMP is a civilization killer, not a people killer.
The Amish would be OK until overrun by roving thugs. Everyone else pretty much looking at near term starvation in the dark and cold with no sources of communication or civil services.
Our military would be just fine for a bit, except there’d be no more civilian power, no food delivered, etc.
It’s bad news.
Look up “induction” or “induced current.”
Then think REALLY BIG AND STRONG.
I concur with your post.
My only dispute is with the idea that *small* nukes can do this. It’s gotta be the right kind of nuke (high gamma producer) and it has to be in the right orbit etc etc.
Maybe the bad guys can’t do it this year, but soon they’ll be able to. And numb nuts in the Oval Office won’t do enough to stop it.
The so called environmentalists would have their way then when the figured it out would cry like babies.
1k of food storage here. I need more ammo though.
Your old stuff likely would run, but ... devices with transistors, capacitors, transformers (ignition systems in other words) are all at risk.
Stuff with integrated circuits and modern power supplies are toast.
Stuff inside the trunk of a car that’s grounded might be remarkably safe, presuming the trunk and surrounds are metal.
Stuff (not touching the bird cage) inside a small-bird bird cage that’s grounded are likely safe(r).
Stuff in a metal tool box that’s grounded, but insulated from the tool box or locker are likley safe.
You get the idea.
Protect your stuff from induction/ induced current. Ground the shield.
;-)
I just wasn’t sure how much to believe the article.
Whatever you are shielding cannot be touching the shielding material. It must be insulated from the shield.
The principle of the Faraday shield is the enormous electrical energy strikes the outer, conductive surface and the energy is dissipated to ground before it destroys the electronic devices.
I know a guy whose entire house and attached garage are a Faraday shield. His entire house is sided and roofed in metal and screwed together. The house is grounded in several places.
Even his automobiles would be protected if parked in the garage insulated from contact with the concrete floor which is also grounded.
Automobiles built before the widespread use of electronic ignition would not be affected. You could operate an early 1970's car (or earlier) because they have no solid state electronics controlling ignition or other operating functions.
Modern vehicles are completely controlled by computers which would be fried if not shielded.
Widespread EMP damage to our modern society would be devastating.
I forgot to mention that any surviving communications equipment would have to be battery and/or solar panel operated because the electrical grid would most likely be completely disabled.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but if something is not plugged in, is it still at risk?
Also, what about solar panels (my backup power supply), will they be affected?
A Faraday shield works just as well ungrounded as it does grounded.
The main thing is for the shield to be highly conductive. The more conductive the shield, the less EMP energy gets through to the inside.
But, the wizards of smart in Washington have probably already thought of that, so never mind.
Think of a generator in a car(yes, they are alternators now).
The stator, directly to the battery, emits an electrical field, the rotor, made up of wires spins in the electrical field. That creates an electrical current.
A wire moving through an electrical field creates a current. Same goes for an electrical field passing a wire.
The EMP flowing over a wire creates a current in the wire. Even small wires and printed circuits.
Transistors are very sensitive to overcurrents. Boom.
Tube type radios are more immune to EMP.
Years ago a Chicom pilot flew a then new Mig-29 to Taiwan.(Think I’m getting the Countries right)
We immediately examined the plane as it was the USSR’s premier interceptor. It had a tube type radio and our military guffawed about the ‘crude’ electronics.
Then reality set in and they thought of why.
This has been a possibility and talked about for years. Strange, the sudden interest.
You said — “This has been a possibility and talked about for years. Strange, the sudden interest.”
—
The seemingly sudden interest is related to the fact that in the past there would be retaliation against countries for doing this, which tended to keep things in check. But, now, when rogue elements not attached to any country can command a fleet of ships (like Osama bin Ladin does now) and shoot a missile from offshore, having a nuke on board (which bin Ladin is reported as having acquired) — then things are no longer “in check”...
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