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Season Four Research Files
Episode Twelve
6:00pm - 7:00pm
An electromagnetic pulse is a shockwave that emits very short (hundreds of nanoseconds) but intense waves which increase as they expand out. They can overwhelm electrical circuitry with an intense electromagnetic field. This results in a massive current that conducts to any electrical object, such as phone lines, power lines and even metal pipes. This would then pass to other components, like a network of computers hooked up to phone lines, and could even burn out semiconductor devices, melt wiring, fry batteries and even explode transformers.
Other systems vulnerable to the EMP effect are road and rail signaling, electronic flight controls, digital engine control systems, radar and electronic warfare equipment, satellites, microwaves, UHF, VHF, HF and low band communications equipment and television equipment.
EMP technology is non-lethal but still highly destructive. An E-bomb attack would leave buildings standing and spare lives, but it could destroy a sizeable military.
An EMP can also be transmitted by a nuclear bomb detonated above the earth's atmosphere. For example, a single nuclear weapon detonated at an altitude of 500 kilometers could produce an EMP that would blanket the entire continental United States, potentially damaging or destroying military forces and civilian communications, power, transportation, water, food, and other infrastructure.
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