Underwater Blast

When a charge of high explosive is detonated underwater, the material of the explosive is converted into a gas at a very high temperature and pressure. Following the detonation a waterborne shock wave radiates away from the charge. Near to the charge the shockwave may cause a momentary rise of pressure above the local ambient pressure, or "overpressure", of thousands of kPa, which can cause environmental damage to humans or marine animals in the area.

The main environmental issues divide into two classes,

• the effects on humans
• the effects on fish

Subacoustech has many years of experience in predicting, measuring and assessing the impact of blast on humans and underwater wildlife.