How bad would a modern nuclear exchange be in comparison to the Cold War?

This was on a reddit forum, and I have no idea the accuracy, it seems to be a bit heavy on state capitols, but it does a good job of visualizing how a 500 ICBM exchange wouldn't be something that we could rebuild from.

nuke-targets-48.jpg
 
If you ask me, a nuclear exchange in modern times would be somewhat better than a general Cold War one given that we have the technology to somewhat endure the post-nuclear situation regarding internet and medicine, though I might be mistaken. That and of course both sides having less nukes than in the Cold War.
This was on a reddit forum, and I have no idea the accuracy, it seems to be a bit heavy on state capitols, but it does a good job of visualizing how a 500 ICBM exchange wouldn't be something that we could rebuild from.

nuke-targets-48.jpg
I guess that's one way the US can become a third world country, with of course fallout and tons of ruined cities.
 
What about a Russia-China vs America nuclear exchange?

Would Chinese nukes especially their DF31AGs. Analysts suspect they have mobile systems in hidden mountain tunnels near and around Tibet.

If we assume Russia and China are on the same side then the US won't be able to hit every major Chinese city.
 
The energy grid isn't going to hold up well to EMPs and that many areas being taken down, so I wouldn't count on the internet.
 
What about a Russia-China vs America nuclear exchange?

Would Chinese nukes especially their DF31AGs. Analysts suspect they have mobile systems in hidden mountain tunnels near and around Tibet.

If we assume Russia and China are on the same side then the US won't be able to hit every major Chinese city.
I'm thinking in the case of China vs the U.S. the U.S. Bomber force may be more viable than it would against Russia. Presumably some of the U.S. "Tactical" weapons could be used in this scenario.
 
The energy grid isn't going to hold up well to EMPs and that many areas being taken down, so I wouldn't count on the internet.

Ground burst EMP rarely exceeds the the thermal pulse area.
Having blown out P-N junctions is secondary to being a dull shadow against a concrete wall

main-qimg-29b3b2459cdd28a2bd2d2a882a5d32b1-c


And Internet was developed in part for communications to work after nuclear strikes
 
Ground burst EMP rarely exceeds the the thermal pulse area.
...
And Internet was developed in part for communications to work after nuclear strikes

Sure, but it hasn't been developed over the last 25 years with that in mind. Large areas are likely to fall off the internet, even if some parts of it keep working. As for the EMP, anyone who wants to produce one will be aware of that fact and use a high-altitude detonation. I would be very surprised if that wasn't already in the targeting plans - the "return on investment" of one warhead is huge.
 
Ground burst EMP rarely exceeds the the thermal pulse area.
Having blown out P-N junctions is secondary to being a dull shadow against a concrete wall

main-qimg-29b3b2459cdd28a2bd2d2a882a5d32b1-c


And Internet was developed in part for communications to work after nuclear strikes

ARAPNET has been disconnected since the late 80s, I believe. Besides, comparing the DoD early internet to the commercial internet we use isn't really useful in terms of what is going to be usable following an attack. I'm also skeptical that there would be much to power the servers and computers. Our grid can only take so many disconnections before it overloads and goes offline. The grid isn't going to be functional in tons of areas after main linkages are destroyed in the attack. Beyond that, fuel will be extremely scarce for a while following an attack, and it's not like the energy companies are going to be really concerned with getting workers to start trying to throw lines back up after many of those decision makers have already been killed. Yes, many areas will be physically untouched, but everything that feeds into our modern standard of living relies on logistics that will utterly devastated by an exchange.
 
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