ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE
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Transcript of ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDefinition
Nuclear bomb Radiation burst: neutrons and gamma waves Blast: shock wave and thermal wave Electromagnetic pulse that can damage electronic
and electrical devices Caused by gamma radiation interacting with upper
atmosphere
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDefinition
High altitude Interaction in upper atmosphere from 12-25 miles
altitude Higher altitude burst creates larger circle of
interaction in upper atmosphere Altitude of 250+ miles creates EMP that covers the
entire continental US
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDefinition
Three waves E1: lasts 1 microsecond, extends across all
frequencies E2: lasts 1 second, similar to lighting strike surges E3: lasts many seconds, low frequency, long
wavelength
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDefinition
Non-nuclear
– Devices that can create local EMP-like effects
– Limited in range and power compared to nuclear and solar events
– May become useful in warfare because of limited scope
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Delicate electronics All electronics and electrical devices Long antennas Infrastructure Ripple effects
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
E-1: Delicate electronics
– Fragile chips and circuits can be burned out
– Includes: computers, smart phones, process controllers, solid state radios, LEDs, solar panels, chargers, modern car ignition systems, surge suppressors
– May not include: older vacuum tube radios, older car ignition systems, batteries
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
E-2: All electronics and electrical devices
– Since the E-1 wave can destroy surge suppressors before they activate, they will likely be unavailable to protect during the E-2 wave
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
E-3: Long antennas
– Long power lines, electrical cables, communication cables, even railroad rails, any conductor long enough to absorb the long waveform
– Will induce currents that can melt lines and cause fires
– Likely to destroy many large transformers in power grid
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Infrastructure Electric power grid
• Likely to be 100% incapacitated, big questions about repair time frames
Water supply Pumping stations – depend upon electric supply,
can use temporary/portable generators if they are available
Water treatment plants – depend upon electric supply, too big to use portable generators, will be down until the grid is restored
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Infrastructure Communications – most unprotected systems will
be down, those with shielding may survive – shielded spares may enable repairs
Transportation – older cars, trucks, locomotives and boats may survive - newer cars, trucks, locomotives and boats may be disabled temporarily or permanently - accidents will congest roads, control systems will be disabled and may take a long time to repair
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Ripple effects
– Repair and replace• Extreme parts shortage of what is most needed,
limited distribution capability, no short term manufacturing capability
– Distribution• Limited by nearly non-existent transportation,
fuel supply and communications
– Manufacturing• Limited by lack of power, workers,
communications, transportation, control systems
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Ripple effects Agriculture
• Crippled by lack of water, equipment, workers, transportation, communication, power – refrigeration, storage and distribution will be non-existent
Financial transactions• Crippled by lack of power, computer systems,
communications, workers
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDamage
Ripple effects Aid: there will be no help coming from anybody
since the entire nation will be affected Repair and recovery will be extremely slow,
possibly taking many years to restore normality Anticipated population death rates:
• 25% in two weeks
• 50% in one month
• 75% in ninety days
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSELikelihood
HEMP (High altitude EMP) Motive
Cripple most US infrastructure without warfare Can be done “anonymously” without retaliation
Means Moderate sized nuclear warhead
500 kiloton bomb (fission weapon) Missile capable of reaching 300 miles altitude
Scud-D, Shahab-3, Nodong, Taepodong-1+2 Launch from ship, balloon, satellite, inside the US
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSELikelihood
HEMP (High altitude EMP) Opportunity
• Get a delivery system into position without detection (either inside the US or near a border)
• 5 minutes flight time from ground to 250 miles altitude
• OUTBOUND trajectory implications– Defensive missiles can't react in enough time– Hesitation in decision making
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSELikelihood
Solar flare 100% probability – flares occur frequently, but
most do not impact us Unknown timing – cannot reliably predict flare
timing Unknown power level – depends on size of the
flare and how directly it impacts Earth We do get some warning: often days, at least
hours
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDetection
Simple observation Power outage Most communications fail Things not connected to power fail - battery
operated devices like laptops, LED flashlights, radios, phones
Car and truck ignition systems may fail
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEDetection
Scientific evidence Sensors will record event until they are disabled
but the data is not likely to be available Only military hardened systems will stay up Emergency radio broadcast may or may not be
practical to spread the word
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEPreparation
Faraday shielding Metallic surrounding with no gaps Insulation from metal Grounding is controversial Simplest method:
Wrap objects in insulating layer (plastic) Wrap objects in foil Place wrapped objects inside metal container that can
be tightly sealed with metal to metal contact
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEPreparation
Spare parts Radios Power generation
Generator spare parts Solar panel, charge controller, inverter Battery chargers
Ignition systems LED lights Data access – DVD reader
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEPreparation
Emergency preparation Water storage, collection and purification Food storage, foraging, hunting, gardening, raising
livestock Defense planning and equipment Medical supplies and knowledge Community networking
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEAfterward
Rapid knowledge sharing Key knowledge points to distribute Collective effort
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEAfterward
Rapid knowledge sharing Most neighbors will have 2-3 days water and 5-10
days food Tell everybody to fill bathtubs and other containers
before the water pressure fails (avg bathtub = 50 gallons)
Inventory resources (water, food, tools, seeds...) Begin food production efforts immediately
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEAfterward
Key knowledge points to distribute
– Fill tubs and collect rainwater
– Maintain water discipline (flushing, bathing)
– Water purification methods
– Food production methods
– Need for cooperation and planning
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSEAfterward
Collective effort Water collection, storage and purification Food production: fish, rabbits, chickens, gardens,
foraging, hunting, storing Defense plan for neighborhood, shared resources Communications – alert system, sharing
information, planning Medical supplies and knowledge will become
premium
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSESummary
EMP is dangerous EMP is likely EMP damage tests a full range of
preparedness and may be widespread Knowledge is critical Fast reactions can save lives Store water
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSESummary
References
– http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp.htm
– http://www.futurescience.com/emp.html
– http://www.empcommission.org/