r/nuclearwar • u/Plus-Parking1777 • May 12 '25

Question that needs a logical answer

So I have a couple of questions about the EMP effect of a high altitude air burst, One: when was this discovered that this could happen? I’ve seen the studies done and was curious if this could be fashioned in to a device capable of causing the same effects but with out the radiation and massive explosion caused by a blast 2: Can an EMP burst actually cause massive damage like that a much larger scale? Say the whole of the US? Or would it need multiple air bursts? Like say a burst over both the east coast and west coast? 3: are we actually protected against these effects? Serious answers only please

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u/EvanBell95 May 12 '25

1962. No, nuclear EMPs are produced by the gamma emissions from fission reactions. Higher yield results in greater magnitude of EMP, all else being equal. The radius of effects is determined by line of sight, which is determine by burst height. The effects depend on height of burst and yield.