From the document shown, there were instruments on two islands that appear to be about 400 miles apart. I assume the EMP was within the range of the scope on island further from the nuke and they just extrapolated.
It is probably more accurate to say they were testing high-altitude detonations and measurement of electromagnetic effects was one of the research objectives. (The post makes it sound like the DoD had designed bombs deliberately for EMP effects and they were being tested primarily for these effects.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hardtack_I
Yes, they wanted to know if the nukes could be used for their EMP effects. Similar to can you use a bunker buster to take out a suspension bridges foundation. It wasn't designed for that job, but they wanted to know if it would work for the job.
Well this detonation in Op Hardtack was to test if they could nuke and ICBM iirc. I think Hardtack 2 they actually were looking at EMP because the moratorium was going to stop their testing.
I'm sorry, but your first sentence seems garbled, and I can't understand your point. Hardtack II was conducted at low altitudes (4,000-6,000 feet) with only 4 larger than 1 kt yield. They were squeezing in a bunch of tests of new designs, but it doesn't seem that EMP effects were high on the list of properties to be concerned about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hardtack_II
So, how did they measure that the electrical pulse was five times as large as the instruments could stand - with instruments?
From the document shown, there were instruments on two islands that appear to be about 400 miles apart. I assume the EMP was within the range of the scope on island further from the nuke and they just extrapolated.
Yes iirc it follows the square-cube law so it would be easily extrapolateable.
It is probably more accurate to say they were testing high-altitude detonations and measurement of electromagnetic effects was one of the research objectives. (The post makes it sound like the DoD had designed bombs deliberately for EMP effects and they were being tested primarily for these effects.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hardtack_I
Yes, they wanted to know if the nukes could be used for their EMP effects. Similar to can you use a bunker buster to take out a suspension bridges foundation. It wasn't designed for that job, but they wanted to know if it would work for the job.
They didn't know much about EMP effects until they ran the tests. It was more of an experiment than an operational proving demonstration.
Well this detonation in Op Hardtack was to test if they could nuke and ICBM iirc. I think Hardtack 2 they actually were looking at EMP because the moratorium was going to stop their testing.
I'm sorry, but your first sentence seems garbled, and I can't understand your point. Hardtack II was conducted at low altitudes (4,000-6,000 feet) with only 4 larger than 1 kt yield. They were squeezing in a bunch of tests of new designs, but it doesn't seem that EMP effects were high on the list of properties to be concerned about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Hardtack_II