Underwater Shocks from Blasting

Underwater blasting causes not only ground shock but water-shock. Underwater shock attenuates less with range from the explosive source than ground shock and has the potential for killing fish or marine mammals or for damaging marine structures. The collapse and subsequent oscillation of the gas cavity surrounding the detonation can sometimes produce a greater impulse than the initial shock wave from the detonation. The airblast from underwater detonations can range from nuisance levels to damaging levels.