Significant Shortfalls
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D. , Baker Spring and Richard Weitz, Ph.D.
August 15, 2011
Abstract: An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) over the United States could end modern life in America overnight. Whether caused by an enemy attack (a nuclear device detonated above the atmosphere) or by a natural phenomenon (a geomagnetic storm), an EMP can cause entire regions of the country to lose electricity—permanently. Despite the EMP Commission’s recommendations in 2004 and 2008, hardly any progress has been made in protecting the country from an EMP attack and its catastrophic results. The U.S. must prepare to deal with an EMP—now.This is a dire warning and must not be ignored; please feel free to pass on this information and movie to friends, neighbors and others. This stuff is for real and you can get the entire 20 page report using the link at the end of this post. Below is just a short bit of physics you might find useful in understanding the EMP.
My teaching fields are Mathematics and Physics. In Physics we study Light which is explained in terms of waves called electromagnetic waves. No matter what kinds of waves we talk about we use three mathematical terms: frequency, wavelength and velocity or speed which are interrelated by a formula.
While light waves are not seen, water waves are easy to see, especially at the beach and so serve as a good example to understand these terms. The distance between successive water wave crests is the wavelength of the wave. The number of crests passing a fixed point every second is called the wave frequency while the distance traveled by a crest every second is called the velocity of the wave. Distance is commonly expressed in feet or meters.
The first source of light we all experience is sunlight. The sun is approximately 93,000,000 (93 million) miles away; light waves from the sun travel at 186,000 miles in one second which is called the speed of light and is very fast! Interestingly, a quick calculation results in a time of 8 and 1/3 minutes it takes light to reach us from the sun. So the light we see at a quick glance at the sun left the sun 8 1/3 minutes before! The light we "see" from the sun is not close to half the story.
There are many different wavelengths (or correspondingly many different frequencies) of "light" we cannot see; all have the same nature and together are called ElectroMagnetic waves or ElectroMagnetic radiation. We use the term radiation from the sun when we experience the warmth from the sun and with too much exposure, sunburn! So the sun radiates radio waves, microwaves, heat or infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays; the use of ray instead of wave is a result of the history or time of discovery of the particular type of radiation, which has resulted in a dual nature for EM radiation: ray or wave.
With this short physics lesson hopefully the little movie which now follows might assist understanding of the EMP or ElectroMagnetic Pulse
that is generated in nature by our sun when a massive explosion (sun spot) occurs on the sun which historically has done damage to electrical/electronic systems on our planet, interrupting communications; but an even more damaging ElectroMagnetic Pulse can be generated by a nuclear explosion above the atmosphere which can wipe out all EM/electronic systems in our entire country! That is why this report published by Heritage.org is so important
Electromagnetic Pulse: EMP Attack Preparedness Reveals Shortfalls 8/16/11 1:52 PM
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/08/Before-the-Lights-Go-Out-A-Survey-of-EMP-Preparedness-Reveals-Significant-Shortfalls Page 1 of 20
Search Heritage for
Backgrounder #2596
This is a Backgrounder On Homeland Security
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