It differs from the usual radio waves in two important ways. With the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the likelihood of a nuclear emp increases. The nuke is detonated high in the air referred to as an air burst or atmospheric burst to create the emp. Em pulse qthe generation of a mechanical shock through sudden increase of pressure causes mechanical damages qthe generation of a heat wave. Because the effects of exposure to electromagnetism leave no visible signs such as bruises or cuts, the cause of a disability or death can be difficult to unravel without knowledge of the phenomena.
Destructive effects of nuclear weapons blast damage thermal damage radiation damage em pulse qthe generation of a mechanical shock through sudden increase of pressure causes mechanical damages qthe generation of a heat wave expanding with the shock causes incineration qthe distribution of radiation through short range and atmospheric fallout. Adose of 600 rem within a short period of time 6 to 7 days. Emp radiation from nuclear space bursts in 1962 are deposited in patches at altitudes depending on their mean free paths. Countries with the capability to exploit emp effects for military gain via highaltitude nuclear detonations or highpower microwave.
These particles move along the magnetic field lines, and so the patches are not found directly above ground zero. General principles of nuclear explosions chapter 2. This new publication consid ers the nuclear weapons effects of all u. Vulnerability of population in various overpressure zones 50 i over 12 psi 512 psi 25 psi 12 psi 75 25 shortterm effects. The destructive power of these bombs is such that if only 1% of them were utilized on urban areas, more people could be killed in a few hours than during the whole of the second world war. Dolan editor, capabilities of nuclear weapons, part 2, damage criteria, stanford research institute, defense nuclear agency, effects manual 1, dna em 1, 1972, change 1 1978, change 2 1981, 8 pages. Effects manual one em 1 is an authoritative source reference document on nuclear weapons phenomenology and effects that is available to all branches of the united states government. Much of the destruction caused by a nuclear explosion is due to blast effects. Northrops handbook of nuclear weapons effects abstracted from em 1. Scope this publication provides joint doctrine for military domestic or international response to minimize the effects of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incident. Nukemap is a mapping mashup that calculates the effects of the detonation of a nuclear bomb. Threat assessments summary electromagnetic pulse emp is. In the context of nuclear emp, the relevant threat actors are those countries that have both shown hostility toward the united states in the past and also have access to ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The electromagnetic pulse and its effects origin and na tore of the emp introducnon ing was halted in 1962.
Nuclear weapons have now been amassed throughout the world to an estimated total of some 15 000 megatons and the quantity continues to increase. High altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices. Capabilities of nuclear weapons u, dna em 1, alexandria, va. The united states most likely has emp weapons in its arsenal, but its not clear in what form. Most of this material is taken from capabilities of nuclear weapons manual em 1, dna, chapters 9 and 12. Nonnuclear emp weapons how ebombs work howstuffworks. Glasstonenuclear weapons effects modelling in python github. Calculational tools abstracted from dswas effects manual one em 1, are subject to the arms export control act. A condensed summary of declassified data was issued in 1996 john a. Since the last version of the effects of nuclear weapons was prepared, much new information has become available concerning nuclear weapons effects. Search for library items search for lists search for. Overview of department of energy sites congressional research service r45306 version 2 updated 3 well as respond to unforeseen technical or geopolitical developments6 by providing the united states with sufficient. Types of electromagnetic em weapons em coupling to systems.
Scientific american 85 smarter use of nuclear waste cycle would combine two innovations. Em 385180 radiation protection manual pdf download. Jp 341, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. A limited amount of data had varying electromagnetic radiation which.
A nuclear emp requires a nuclear weapon delivered by a rocket, high flying aircraft or icbm. A nuclear electromagnetic pulse commonly abbreviated as nuclear emp, or nemp is a burst of electromagnetic radiation created by a nuclear explosion. Purpose this publication has been prepared under the direction of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff cjcs. Groundshockcoupled energy includes the additional energy coupled to the ground by surface air blast for height of burst detonations. Protection from nuclear weapons small as possible and by increasing the thickfortifications which are effective against mod ness of overhead protection for large shelters ern conventional weapons are in varying meas to 75 cm 2 ft.
Dna em 1 part i 1 july 1972 defense nuclear agency effects manual number 1 capabilities of nuclear weapons part i phenomenology headquarters defense nuclear agency washington, d. Purpose the secretary of defense, on behalf of the president, is submitting this report on nuclear employment strategy of the united states in accordance with section 491 of 10 u. The 1977 third edition the most recent version of this publication was scanned by the program in science and global security of the woodrow wilson school of public and international affairs at princeton university into a collection of bitmap pdf files which were linked to a web page. Electromagnetic em radiation effects sciences securing our nation from the threat of hostile em radiation environments triggering a threat to our nations electricity grid, an electromagnetic pulse emp could cause catastrophic. The following describes the health effects and casualties that could be expected from only one 10 to 20 kiloton nuclear weapon the size of the bombs that destroyed hiroshima and nagasaki detonated at an altitude of 1 km above a densely populated area1.
Describes effects, particularly blast effects, and the response of various types of structures to the weapons effects. Overview of department of energy sites congressional research service 3 well as respond to unforeseen technical or geopolitical developments6 by providing the united states with sufficient capacity to sustain and replace its nuclear forces. Nor are recent software tools for modeling nuclear. First, it creates much higher electric field strengths. Brodes 1992 edition, with a separate volume for each chapter. Other threat vehicle responses to nuclear effects data have been obtained from tests on foreign equipment sponsored by usanca. Much of the united states emp research has involved high power microwaves hpms. This library provides a selection of operational nuclear weapons effects models implemented in python using numpy and scipy. The danger of emp requires innovative and strategic action. Report of the commission to assess the threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse emp attack volume 1. This has come in part from the series of atmospheric tests, including several at very high altitudes, conducted in the pacific ocean area in 1962.
Electromagnetic weapons, biochemical effects encyclopedia. Dna em 1 capabilities of nuclear weapons internet archive. France china atmospheric 194563 194962 195258 196074 196480 215 219 21 50 23 underground 195192 196190 196291 196196 196996 815 496 24 160 22 total 1030 715 45 210 45 528. Glasstonenuclear weapons effects modelling in python. Because survivability of our nuclear weapons stockpile in hostile. In 2004, clay wilson of the congressional research service reported that a hemp high altitude electromagnetic pulse attack directed against the united states might involve a one. The prompt effects of a nuclear explosion and fallout are well known through data gathered from the attacks on hiroshima and nagasaki, japan.
All nuclear weapons detonated at high altitude produce emp, but some types of nuclear weapons are designed specifically to be efficient at producing emp. Nuclear weapons are fundamentally different from conventional weapons because of the vast amounts of explosive energy they can release and the kinds of effects they produce, such as high temperatures and radiation. By simulating the effects of a 1 in 100 year geomagnetic storm centered over southern canada, the computer models estimated the sections of the power grid expected. Dolan editor, capabilities of nuclear weapons, stanford research institute, defense nuclear agency effects manual 1, dna em 1, 1972, with page updates change 1 1978 and change 2 1981. Destructive effects of nuclear weapons blast damage thermal damage radiation damage em pulse the generation of a mechanical shock through sudden increase of pressure causes mechanical damages the generation of a heat wave expanding with the shock causes incineration the distribution of radiation through short range and atmospheric fallout. Effects of nuclear earthpenetrator and other weapons. Nuclear weapon the effects of nuclear weapons britannica. The tasking for the committee on the effects of nuclear earthpenetrator and other weapons, stated in section 1033 of the bob stump national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2003 public law 107314, is included in chapter 1 of this report. Nuclear electromagnetic pulse nemp, as a result of a nuclear explosion.
These models are intended to provide researchers and analysts outside of the defense complex with a better means of understanding nuclear weapons effects. Exposure to electricity and electromagnetic radiation, while relatively uncommon, can be a factor in a forensic investigation. Most likely, the united states hpm ebombs arent really. Defense nuclear agency effects manual number 1 capabilities of nuclear weapons 1 july 1972 dna em 1 part i dna em 1 part ii 29. Reporters have widely speculated that they do exist and that such weapons could be used in a war with iraq.
Report of the commission to assess the threat to the. Electromagnetic pulse emp is an electromagnetic wave similar to radio waves, which results from secondary reactions occurring when the nuclear gamma radiation is absorbed in the air or ground. Electromagnetic pulse emp is not included, since we are concerned with blast effects on the propagation environment. The resulting rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical and electronic systems to. It was renamed capabilities of nuclear weapons in 1964.
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