just a bit of followup on studying available info on actual EMP experiments with nukes.
The Russians have released far more SCIENTIFIC data about EMP studies from Nukes than the US has - at least publicly. The K3 test of 1962 damaged a power plant (exact nature of damage was not revealed- the plant basically burned down- but what caused it to burn was not.) The detonation was at 180 miles altitude, and 200 miles from the plant. It was almost EXACTLY at right angles to a 487 mile long power line buried 90 cm, and to above ground 7 wire communication lines. The power surge in the comm lines was measure at 1,350 amps - and melted the comm lines. The damage to the power plant was definitely from the E3 component of the EMP - which is the longest duration pulse (therefore the highest energy) and was 7.5 kv/meter in amplitude out of a theoretical max of 5.0 kv/meter. The K3 nuke (and the k1,k2,k4,k5) were all 300 kton.
The Hawaii EMP damage from Starship Prime (300 streetlights out of how many thousands?) and unspecified microwave facility damage... oh,and lets not forget the burglar alarms set off -was from a 1.3 megaton Nuke detonated over Johnston Island, 1450km/900miles away.
The altitude of that detonation: 450 km.
Only 3 of the US above ground tests have data released. The other two over Johnston Island were at 43km and 80km in altitude, and were larger than starfish prime, at 2.0 to 4.0 Megatons (range given for each explosion, 195
. NO DAMAGE IN HAWAII FROM THOSE DETONATIONS occurred.
Basic Trig shows that an altitude of 50 miles - the maximum radius of the EMP having effect on the ground is approx 650 miles. The earths curvature blocks any further reach. Basic stuff.
Anywhose- How does an EMP strike compare to a direct Lightning Strike ? What are the currents and voltages (durations are approx the same) ?
From http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/lightning2.html
Amperage: Most measurements have been in the range 5,000 to 20,000 amps but a famous strike just before the Apollo 15 launch in 1971 was measured at 100,000 amperes by magnetic links attached to the umbilical tower. Currents over 200,000 amps have been reported.
Voltages:Williams says a typical lightning bolt bridges a potential difference (voltage) of several hundred million volts.
Power:Williams says a moderate thunderstorm generates several hundred megawatts of electrical power.
So given actual measurements of the K3 test given above - you can put it in perspective now.
For more Russian data: (starting at page 39)
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a495245.pdf
There is really neat montage photo of seven different nuclear atmospheric tests - can't link it here- it's in the pdf - worth going to it just for that image,imo.
and also, from Loborev - a lead Russian scientist at the tests ...
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/News/Loborev.txt
I'll leave it to ya'll to convert km to miles so you can do apples to apples for all the altitudes given. *w*
Signing off, and Cheery-oh
Professor Pollyanna Monkeytrots
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