[ClearCase_guy]

A nuclear device, in the stratosphere (30 miles), at the altitude achieved by a simple weather balloon, could create a EMP pulse with a radius of 480 miles. Basically the entire eastern seaboard could be crippled (for years) by an Iranian nuclear device delivered even somewhat close to what this guy is talking about. All he needs is a crude missile delivery system or an East wind.

Nuclear devices aren't really about craters, glass fields, or radioactive fallout. Nuclear devices are about EMPs and what they do to advanced industrial societies.

[Chainmail]

"A nuclear device, in the stratosphere (30 miles), at the altitude achieved by a simple weather balloon, could create a EMP pulse with a radius of 480 miles. Basically the entire eastern seaboard could be crippled (for years) by an Iranian nuclear device delivered even somewhat close to what this guy is talking about. All he needs is a crude missile delivery system or an East wind"

So many errors, so little time:

1. Weather balloons usually don't have lift capacity in excess of a ton. Even advanced Nuclear warheads weigh well over a ton and the early Fat Man/Little Boy bombs weighed around 5 tons.

2. Balloons don't get to the altitudes necessary for an EMP to be generated which are well above the stratosphere.

3. Balloons aren't accurate - heck, they don't go anywhere near their intended targets. Remember the great Japanese balloon bomb scare of the '40s? Less than 1% of all the thousands launched made it to the US. And nearly all the East oast prevailing winds are westerly.

No offense, Bud but you should do a little more study on the subject before hitting the "End of the world" button.

[sean327]

“Nuclear devices are about EMPs and what they do to advanced industrial societies.”

Post of the day. While a nuclear device will have a devestating effect with it’s heat and blast over pressure, the radius of that devestation is small compared to the damage EMP will cause. Everything electrical/electronic will be rendered useless. EMP is our biggest threat when it comes to nuclear weapons.

[Former Proud Canadian]

So how big a balloon would you need?

[RobinOfKingston]

... the entire eastern seaboard could be crippled (for years) ...

The upside to that is that, of necessity, the epa would be reduced in size to something like a cub scout pack.