36 Hours: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series (24 page)

RF Weapons, also known as directed-energy weapons, use electromagnetic energy on specific frequencies to disable electronic systems. The principle is similar to that of high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. HPM systems tend to be much more sophisticated and are more likely to be in the control of technologically advanced nations. RF weapons, by contrast, are simple and low-voltage enough that they could be deployed by smaller, less technologically enhanced forces, including terrorists. In fact, they can be manufactured using parts purchased online, or at your local Radio Shack store. Instructions for assembling the components and how to use the RFW are available online as well.

In the electromagnetic spectrum, the range of frequencies for waves is from approximately 102 Hz to more than 1025 Hz. From the lowest frequencies to about 1010 Hertz is the range of long-wave radio, short-wave radio, and microwaves. These lower frequencies carry broadcast radio, television, mobile phone communications, radar, and even highly specific forms of transmission; such as those of baby monitors or garage-door openers.

Due to regulations by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), AM—
amplitude modulation
broadcasts, take place across a frequency range from 535 kHz to 1.7MHz. The FCC has assigned the range of 5.9 to 26.1 MHz to shortwave radio, and 26.96 to 27.41 MHz to citizens' band (CB) radio. Above these levels are microwave regions assigned to very high frequency (VHF) television stations 2 through 6, then FM—
frequency modulation
radio, which occupies the range from 88 to 108 MHz. Higher still are VHF—
very high frequency
channels 7 to 13, and UHF—
ultra-high-frequency
television broadcasts. At the highest microwave ranges—around 1010 Hz—is where you will find transmissions from spacecraft.

FCC regulation is necessary to maintain security, privacy, and safety on the airwaves. If a broadcaster or receiver strays outside of its assigned range, it can intercept private communications, or potentially disrupt highly sensitive transmissions. Among the most vulnerable from a safety perspective, are the communications between an aircraft cockpit and the control tower, which could result in grave consequences if disrupted, even for a few seconds.

Why is this important? High-power microwave weaponry produces a voltage and intensity capable of shutting off the computer systems of an aircraft long enough that a pilot would be unable to operate his navigational controls, potentially causing a crash. With an RF weapon, the intensity of the signal is smaller, but if properly directed, it could possibly disrupt aircraft communication systems long enough to bring down the plane. It could cause the computers to reset, or disrupt safety sensors, navigation systems, data recorders, or control systems. Enough errors in these sensitive flight components, particularly in the highly computerized aircraft of today, might be sufficient to force a plane out of the sky. This threat will be discussed in more depth, as it relates to RFW use by terrorists, namely ISIS.

Concerns over RF interference initially resulted in the prohibition against cell phone, radio, or computer operation aboard an aircraft, from the time of preparation for takeoff, until after it lands. Such relatively weak and harmless electronic devices could interfere with vital flight communications. Imagine the harm that could be done by terrorists operating a directed and more powerful system with malicious intent.

Adding to the dangers of RF weaponry is its portability, allowing it to be operated from the ground. A terrorist could attack a target and seek cover in the process, rendering the sacrifice of the terrorist's life unnecessary. Furthermore, RF weaponry, as a means of electromagnetic warfare, is
clean
and virtually untraceable.

To summarize, RF Weapons operate as a high-frequency pulse, in the E1 range, similar to a nuclear EMP. The primary differences are that the RF Weapon is localized—directed at a particular target—while a high-altitude EMP is intended to have a broad impact, depending on its height of detonation.

On the other hand, a powerful
Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME,
is considered a low-frequency event—the equivalent of the E3 component of a nuclear EMP.

A CME originates in active regions on the Sun’s surface from groupings of sunspots associated with frequent solar flares. When a CME is emitted from the sun, enormous quantities of electromagnetic radiation are discharged through space. When the ejection is directed towards Earth, the shock wave of the traveling mass of solar energized particles causes a disruption in the Earth’s magnetosphere. This disruption is very similar to the detonation of a high-altitude nuclear EMP. These solar energized particles cause a geomagnetic storm within the Earth’s upper atmosphere, creating a beautiful aurora around the North and South poles. Known as the Northern Lights, or
aurora borealis
, in the northern hemisphere, and the Southern Lights, or
aurora australis
in the southern hemisphere, these geomagnetic storms can produce beautiful skies for observers as far south as the U.S. – Canadian border.

However, depending upon the intensity of the geomagnetic storm, damage to electronics can occur. Despite this fact, there has never been a solar storm recorded that released the energy equivalent to a nuclear EMP. An additional difference, is the requirement of an antenna for the CME to directly impact electronics. Once the charged particles of a CME enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they interact with power lines, electrical cords, USB cables, etc. to travel through electronics. A nuclear EMP does not require an antenna to impact electronic circuitry.

A CME is a random, relatively unpredictable event. Today’s advanced technology enables scientists to detect an incoming CME twelve to seventy-two hours in advance of an impact with Earth. However, magnetic field strength and orientation of incoming plasma – key ingredients in forecasting the effect of the impact on Earth, can only be accurately measured with a lead time of fifteen to thirty minutes.

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APPENDIX B
Space Weather: A Primer

Best-Selling Author Bobby Akart

The Prepping for Tomorrow Series

Because you never know when the day before —

is the day before.

Prepare for tomorrow!

Author Bobby Akart, the founder of Freedom Preppers, has been a tireless proponent of adopting a preparedness lifestyle. As he learned prepping tips and techniques, he shared them with others via his writing on the American Preppers Network website, and in his bestselling book series—
The Boston Brahmin
and
Prepping for Tomorrow
.

In The Boston Brahmin series, political suspense collides with post-apocalyptic thriller fiction. Bobby’s attention to detail and real-world scenarios immerses the reader in a world of geopolitical machinations and post-apocalyptic drama. Preparedness skills and techniques are interwoven in the plot in way that the reader can be given a real-world scenario to envision.

The Prepping for Tomorrow series is the culmination of Bobby’s research and real-world experiences provided in a concise guide for new and experienced preppers alike.

The Blackout Series is intended to provide the reader a glimpse into the lives of ordinary Americans as they face a catastrophic collapse event in the form of a massive coronal mass ejection.

What is Space Weather?

Space weather is primarily driven by solar storm phenomena that include coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar flares, solar particle events, and solar wind. These phenomena can occur in various regions on the sun’s surface, but only Earth-directed solar storms are the potential drivers of space weather events on Earth. An understanding of solar storm phenomena is an important component to developing accurate space-weather forecasts (event onset, location, duration, and magnitude).

CMEs are explosions of plasma (charged particles) from the sun’s corona. They generally take twenty-four to forty-eight hours to arrive at Earth, but in the most extreme cases they have been observed to arrive in as little as fifteen hours. When CMEs collide with Earth’s magnetic field,
they can cause a space weather event called a geomagnetic storm, which often includes enhanced aurora displays. Geomagnetic storms of varying magnitudes can cause significant long- and short-term impacts to the Nation’s critical infrastructure, including the electric power grid, aviation systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) applications, and satellites.

A solar flare is a brief eruption of intense high-energy electromagnetic radiation from the sun’s surface, typically associated with sunspots. Solar flares can affect Earth’s upper atmosphere, potentially causing disruption, degradation, or blackout of satellite communications, radar, and high-frequency radio communications. The electromagnetic radiation from the flare takes approximately eight minutes to reach Earth, and the effects usually last for one to three hours on the daylight side of Earth.

Solar particle events are bursts of energetic electrons, protons, alpha particles, and other heavier particles into interplanetary space. Following an event on the sun, the fastest moving particles can reach Earth within tens of minutes and temporarily enhance the radiation level in interplanetary and near-Earth space. When energetic protons collide with satellites or humans in space, they can penetrate deep into the object that they collide with and cause damage to electronic circuits or biological DNA. Solar particle events can also pose a risk to passengers and crew in aircraft at high latitudes near the geomagnetic poles and can make radio communications difficult or nearly impossible.

Solar wind, consisting of plasma, continuously flows from the sun. Different regions of the sun produce winds of different speeds and densities. Solar wind speed and density play an important role in space weather. High-speed winds tend to produce geomagnetic disturbances, and slow-speed winds can bring calm space weather. Space weather effects on Earth are highly dependent on solar wind speed, solar wind density, and direction of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. When high-speed solar wind overtakes slow-speed wind or when the magnetic field of solar wind switches polarity, geomagnetic disturbances can result.

The Deadly Threat of a Coronal Mass Ejection – Solar Flare

A powerful electromagnetic pulse, whether resulting from a nuclear-delivered EMP or a massive solar storm, could collapse the power grid and the critical infrastructure of our nation.

Is the threat real? Renowned American astronomer, Phil Plait, who is a self-proclaimed skeptic, is known as The Bad Astronomer because of his work in debunking common misunderstandings about space events. "People sometimes ask me if anything in astronomy worries me," says Plait, when asked about the threat of a deadly CME. "Something like this is near the top of the list."

There is good reason to be concerned. A National Academy of Sciences study found there is a twelve percent chance that a monster solar storm will strike Earth within the next decade. A solar event of that import could cause two trillion dollars’ worth of damage in the first year of recovery alone—twenty times the cost of Hurricane Katrina.

But, what about the human cost? Studies frequently cite economic loss. How would the destruction of the power grid and other critical infrastructure; like the internet, banking, and government be affected? Has such a storm ever hit Earth?

Yes, several times. Imagine our way of life without power for weeks on end, as a result of a massive solar flare striking the Earth. It happened in 1859, in what is commonly referred to as the Carrington Event.

On Sept. 1, 1859, British astronomer Richard Carrington noticed a brilliant solar flare over England. In the days that followed, a succession of coronal mass ejections struck Earth head-on. Auroras illuminated the night sky from Africa to Hawaii. "The light appeared to cover the whole firmament," one Baltimore newspaper reported. "It had an indescribable softness and delicacy." The effects were more than aesthetic. EMPs from the storm caused telegraph systems — known as the
Victorian internet
— to fail throughout North America and Europe; in some cases, lines sparked and offices caught fire. Otherwise, the damage was minimal.

Nonetheless, for telegraph operators in the Americas and Europe, the experience caused chaos. Many found that their lines were just unusable—they could neither send nor receive messages. Others were able to operate even with their power supplies turned off, using only the current in the air from the solar storm.

From historical reports, one telegraph operator said, "The line was in perfect order, and skilled operators worked incessantly from eight o'clock last evening until one o’clock this morning to transmit, in an intelligible form, four hundred words of the report per steamer Indian for the Associated Press."