[Poohbah]

Why? EMP? What is the EMP effect from a ground detonation. I thought that was only a factor from high-altitude blasts.

EMP is generated in ALL nuclear blasts, as are magnetohydrodynamic currents.

And in a dense urban core, there's a s**tload of wiring and cable runs to be made into secondary emitters of EMP & MHD effects.

[Dan Evans]

EMP is generated in ALL nuclear blasts, as are magnetohydrodynamic currents. And in a dense urban core, there's a s**tload of wiring and cable runs to be made into secondary emitters of EMP & MHD effects.

The EMP effects for a small nuclear explosion at ground level extend only about as far as the blast effects. This would be just as true in a city. The forest of metal in the city will serve to attenuate the EMP and reflect it back into ground zero just the same as the city environment tends to attenuate TV signals.

Speaking of which, it is the same case with eardrum damage. If you are close enough to have your eardrum ruptured, you will also have a house on top of you.