  In addition to a fast electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high altitude nuclear
burst produces a relatively slow magnetohydrodynarnic EMP (MHD EMP), whose
effects are like those from solar storm geomagnetically induced currents (SS
GIC). The MHD EMP electric field E < 10^-1 V/m and lasts < 10^2 sec, whereas
for solar storms E > 10^-2 V/m and lasts >10^3 sec. Although the solar storm
electric field is lower than MHD EMP, the solar storm effects are generally
greater due to their much longer duration. Substorms produce much smaller
effects than SS GIC, but occur much more frequently. This paper describes the
physics of such geomagnetic disturbances and analyzes their effects.

General Physics;Physics and Society