A Real Look at EMPs
Electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, is an interesting topic currently making the rounds again. Usually the subject surrounds a high-altitude EMP via an aerial nuclear blast 100-200 hundred miles over the central United States. Even though in this scenario the USA is the primary target, because of the interconnected economic relationships we have with the rest of the world most other nations would be impacted negatively to some degree.
Previously, we had the same concern after North Korea was making threats and testing long-range intercontinental ballistic missile technology as well as their nuclear weapons program. Now with Russia currently making threats, one can understand the level of worry rising again.
No, civilization cannot be taken out by a single blast, but the impact would most likely not be zero either. And thanks to the Internet, there is plenty of misinformation out there on the topic. So let’s talk about it, and stick to the facts.
Some Basics
Note that nukes are not the only potential source of an EMP. There are a number of different EMP types, the nuclear one is the one most people tend to dwell on, but there are others. Basically, a short surge or pulse of energy is an EMP. Lightning, meteors, and electrostatic discharges can all cause EMPs.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun could cause geomagnetic storms, and can in fact create impact to some power grids on Earth (see the 1989 geomagnetic storm information). But assuming nukes are the primary source, it simply isn’t going to be the civilization-ending event that causes all electrical components to fail.
There are two ways a nuclear EMP strike would work. First, there could be a direct line-of-sight between the explosion and the ground, putting basically every point that sees the flash in some danger of electronics being impacted. Secondly, a pulse could hit power lines which could absorb the electromagnetic pulse and cause a massive surge to everything in the area plugged into the grid. The latter seems more likely in the case of a nuclear EMP.
For a nuclear EMP, the main things to keep in mind are that it would not give you an electric shock and it is a very quick pulse - much quicker than for example a lightning EMP. The initial nuke EMP pulse is measured in nanoseconds rather than milliseconds, so a conventional UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) would not be able to react in time. Sure, if a nuclear EMP is physically close enough to you to cause physical damage, I think you might have more pressing issues like radiation poisoning to be worrying about instead of whether you can tweet about it on your phone.
Wires will tend to act like antennas during these events, so things with relatively short wires (phones, laptops, and so on) will be least likely to face impact. Even most cars and trucks will not be impacted. Remember, in the case of a nuclear EMP these are essentially radio waves, not electrical bursts. When the 1989 geomagnetic storm and the subsequent CME happened, Quebec suffered from an 9 hour power outage as the regional power grid was impacted. This was due to a number of conditions, but mainly long stretches of power lines.
Protection
So how do you protect your electronics? Here are a few things you can do.
If you’re looking up tips on the Internet and they mention wrapping things in tin foil, or how civilization will end, move on. They are discussing rumors and unsubstantiated claims. Stick to claims that are backed up by actual scientific research.
A UPS will protect you against most common and simple spikes of a conventional electrical nature. Make sure it is inline and does power conditioning.
For things like a nuclear EMP, checking to see if equipment or accessories are rated for MIL-STD-188-125 or MIL-STD-461G helps. And check for the certificate. Trust me, if they spent the money to get it properly tested, they will proudly display the certificate online where you can view it. Note this still might be overkill, but if you feel better about it, well there you go.
Don’t panic. Most likely, you can’t protect everything immediately. Establish some priorities first. If immediate communications via your phone or your computer are important, you’re probably fine (assuming cell towers and Internet providers are not impacted). If you’re worried about a grid-down situation, start with a generator, and plan for eventual solar panels and batteries. You can even plan things out to cover just essential circuits, like your refrigerator and HVAC.
For things like the grid, there are a few things happening here in the USA that are positive. Thanks to things like Presidential Executive Order 13865 there is currently strong research efforts being put forth. Some of the more promising pilot programs have a military focus and there are a number of promising research projects, but these will still eventually translate into a stronger grid for everyone. Note that while there is emphasis by the US Government to focus on the nuke angle, they are still looking at solutions to deal with solar-induced CMEs and even extended outages from natural disasters (e.g. hurricanes).
In Closing
I hoped this helped clear up a few myths. Remember, question everything and rely on science, not Internet rumor.
