Definition of an EMP
September 15, 2011, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
electromagnetic pulse (EMP):
The electromagnetic radiation from a nuclear explosion or a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field. The resulting electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical/electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges.
A broadband, high-intensity, short-duration burst of electromagnetic energy.
In the case of a nuclear detonation, the electromagnetic pulse consists of a continuous frequency spectrum. Most of the energy is distributed throughout the lower frequencies between 3 Hz and 30 kHz.
An instantaneous, intense energy field that can overload or disrupt at a distance numerous electrical systems and high technology microcircuits, which are especially sensitive to power surges.
A large scale EMP effect can be produced by a single nuclear explosion detonated high in the atmosphere. A similar, smaller-scale EMP effect can be created using non-nuclear devices with powerful batteries or reactive chemicals. Several nations, including reported sponsors of terrorism, may currently have a capability to use EMP as a weapon for cyber warfare or cyber terrorism to disrupt communications and other parts of the U.S. critical infrastructure.
The most important mechanism for Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) production from a nuclear detonation is the ionization of air molecules by gamma rays generated from the explosion. These gamma rays ionize the air molecules by interacting with the air molecules to produce positive ions and recoil electrons called Compton electrons. This pulse of energy, which produces a powerful electromagnetic field, particularly within the vicinity of the weapon burst, is called an electromagnetic pulse. EMP can also be produced from non-nuclear sources, such as electromagnetic bombs, or E-bombs.
High-altitude nuclear detonations and electromagnetic bombs can generate EMP that has the potential to damage or destroy electronic devices over widespread areas. Electric power systems would also be at risk from surges produced by such weapons.
A 1.4 Megaton bomb launched about 250 miles above Kansas would destroy most of the electronics that were not protected in the entire Continental United States.
During the brief return to atmospheric testing in 1962, a 1.4 megaton nuclear weapon was detonated over Johnston Island at an altitude of about 250 miles. The effects of EMP were observed in Hawaii, 800 miles east of the detonation. Streetlights and fuses failed on Oahu and telephone service was disrupted on the Island of Kauai.
EMP is not radioactive, but a pulse of energy produced as a side effect of a nuclear detonation or electromagnetic bomb.
EMP has no known effect on living organisms, but can temporarily or permanently disable electrical and electronic equipment.
A big enough EMP will induce currents in semiconductor components and fry them.
Instead of simply cutting off power in an area, an EMP would actually destroy most machines that use electricity. Generators would be useless, cars wouldn’t run, and there would be no chance of making a phone call. In a matter of seconds, a big enough EMP could thrust an entire city back 200 years.
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EMP also stands for EVERYTHING MALFUNCTIONS PERMANENTLY. This of course is not entirely true and meant as a joke, but it is not far from true as most everything is not safe guarded against EMP and so much of what everyone depends on is now totally vulnerable to EMP. I saw this on a program one time about much smaller E-bombs that would take out a city or several blocks of a business district, and this they regarded as the most probable attack and the easier that terrorists would attempt on the U.S.
@Ken; You are absolutely correct. This is a very good piece on EMP. I would say though that to be a nationwide attack it would have to be a thermo-nuclear device to achieve that degree of effect AND have to be delivered via some sort of missile. This would restrict the number actors available that could actually bring this about. Russia, China, India and the U.S.A. are the only KNOWN possessors of hydrogen bombs. (Note: if a hydrogen bomb has been made by someone, it hasn’t/can’t be tested without the western world being aware of it) The worst thing about EMP isn’t the consumer electronics that will be destroyed but the electrical production infrastructure that will be destroyed. The only part of that that MAY survive will be hydroelectric dam generators due to their physical shielding under tons of concrete and steel. Air Force EMP studies in the mid 90s showed that vehicles were inconsistently affected or not. This testing is usually for military equipment but non-tactical vehicles were tested also with no consensus on why some were non-functional and others worked just fine. There is no doubt that basic consumer electronics would probably be destroyed, TVs, radios, laptops and other micro-circuitry devices. The easiest prepper fix for this is to buy an old pre-electronic, diesel truck and buy either a complete set of diodes and VR for the truck, or go to a junk yard and buy a complete alt. and VR and store them properly. (FYI, there is a book “Lights Out” I think that’s the name and the author escapes me, but a pretty good read, on this subject, required reading IMHO) Proper storage would be two layers of metal shielding and isolation of the device from the initial container, i.e. foil static bag(just for shits and grins), inside a wood lined(insulator) ammo can placed on a piece of wood inside a metal filing cabinet THAT IS GROUNDED (ask electrician). I have a metal shop that is grounded and store sensitive items in it as described above. BI is correct about the small ones. Imagine that one with a 1 mile range was set off on Wall St. in the middle of a trading day. Hope this is useful and helps.
Just FYI. This, whether EMP or CME in origin, grid down is one of two scenarios that scares me the most. It would be TEOTWAKI for decades potentially longer. The other is COMPLETE economic collapse as it would result in The End OF The Civilized World As We Know It (TEOTCWAKI. It would probably be only a few decades but much more brutal.
As everybody knows, Edison invented electricity in around,1900-with a little help from his friends. Even allowing for later rural electrification, there are not many “civilized” people today who have lived without the plug-it-in mind set. The “shock” to this group will produce a stress that dwarfs their current tramas of their cell battery going out, or having the wrong tie. Then comes the cage fighting,without a cage,or any rules.First responders and hospitals will be useless or targets themselves. If this occures in the winter, the short term problems will be shorter, as there will be many more dead and less moving around.
Going to the store to buy some bottled water and a flashligh,the usual survival equipment of the “too little too late” bunch,will be a waste of time.A plan might be to team up now, if you run into any actual thinking decent people, gather up some gear and figure out a way to get out of any city for the duration. Make some practice runs to iron out the wrinkles.
If you live in a rural area, better; but remember “little house on the prarie” was replaced by “sex in the city” on the media that people who do not live in a city arealso subjected tothe lowering effect on IQ. There are a lot less
“rural folk” in rural areas than there used to be,but there are enough to know which end of an axe to use and the difference between a turkey and a hoodie, in regards to a 12 ga etc. Bettet yet would be driving out into the country where some real deals on real estate may be found.Get to know some people in the area so if this deal goes down, they won;t shoot first.
“Instead of simply cutting off power in an area, an EMP would actually destroy most machines that use electricity. Generators would be useless, cars wouldn’t run, and there would be no chance of making a phone call. In a matter of seconds, a big enough EMP could thrust an entire city back 200 years.”
@ Ken & ed bryant. Genuine interest – what is the specific feature of EMP that would stop a car running… I aready have an old diesel truck – mechanical fuel injection, but it still has an electric primer pump and of course the starter and alternator….
Any advice re: Specifically making sure the ol’ girl will run ‘no matter what’ much appreciated…
In short, an EMP will (could) damage semiconductor ‘junctions’. That is, the electrical current that will be induced from the EMP will force itself across diode junctions, transistor junctions, microprocessors (which are made up of zillions of transistors), etc… Most all modern electronics use some form of simple or very complicated semiconductor technology. You may be surprised to discover how many systems are integrated with one form or another of electronics.
In your car’s alternator… the diode / regulator junction is vulnerable. I know that older vehicles are pretty well safe (except maybe for their alternators), prior to the days of the computer and electronic fuel injection. I am not familiar with diesel engines and can’t offer advice there, as I’ve only owned gasoline engines. I have owned a number of older cars though, and I can understand how they will be more likely to survive. Thing is though… even those vehicles will require gasoline or diesel fuel to operate. So, where’s that going to come from? Only if you’ve got it stored – for the most part.
So purchasing a spare regulator/brush assembly would be recommended, but presumably this would need to be shielded or stored in some way that would prevent damage in the event of EMP? Is there a way of doing this?
Exactly.
I plan to do an in-depth article on this one day (Faraday – EMP protection methods), however, the short of it in your example would be to double wrap / insulate it at a very minimum. Search for my old post and video on protecting a portable radio from EMP which shows the basic technique. Better yet will be to store the double insulated devices in a grounded metal container of some sort. The sky’s the limit regarding your own ideas on this – much depends on the quantity and size of what you’re trying to protect. Google ‘Faraday Cage’ and that will get you started.
Much obliged!
You would probably need to buy the electric primer pump and starter as well. The issue as Ken explains one layer down is the smaller electrical components. The pump may have a small diode in it and some starters have soe solid state component in them a well. The actual coils in them should be okay, but I wouldn’t know how to fix them outright. The fact that something is installed inside a metal vehicle is similar to being inside it during a lightning storm where you are isolated from the lightning killing you. The difference is that lightning is a direct application of electrical energy and CME or EMP is electrical induction. It might not be needed as the sturdier electrical items may be okay shielded by the body of the truck but to be on the safe side I would get the pump and starter and any other little electrical things that are needed to run the engine. I’m glad you mentioned the fuel injectors. When I said an old diesel truck I meant with mechanical injectors, I guess I was not clear on that. Good luck.
Electronics protected in a properly earthed Faraday Cage would mist likely survive.
You home computer desktop is supposed to be encased in a metal surround with proper grounding. This means the case should be connected to the power lead ground wire. The power lead should be the 3 pin active, neutral, earth type and connect back to the 3 pin house power socket. The socket is supposed to have a properly connected ground. (Three pin power outlets are standard in the U.K. and other countries).
Cars with modern tyres should protect simpler electronics. The latest cars with so many computerized controls don’t count. Petrol powered cars pre 1990 with simple electronics should be O.K. My ’90 model petrol powered Mercedes has all its electronics in protective metal shields.(and everything is earthed)
It’s the exposed micro electronics which will suffer the most problems. Larger simple Diodes in alternators should survive – unless directly underneath the event.
An EMP shatters the laws of electricity monetarily. i.e. Inductance breaks down – generators will not work. An electrical spike can occur immediately
after the momentary break in conductance. These spikes are what do most of the damage.
CME’s work in a different way. They cause high voltage induction in transformers and long lines.