Destructive Water-Borne Pressure Waves

Many energetic sources (blasting, pile-driving, seismic exploration, …) near or within a water body may produce destructive, water-borne pressure waves. Pressure waves of sufficient amplitude can impact water-side structures and aquatic fauna. Such energetic sources produce pressure waves and cavitation that can cause concrete to spall, deform metal sheets that are near to the source, kill aquatic organisms, and/or damage hearing of marine mammals at large distances. Any program (energetic systems) that causes pressure waves within the water layer may be conducted in a manner that reduces the pressure waves’ severity. The methodology to reduce pressure waves does not need to reduce the efficiency of the energetic source. Basic physical laws govern the transmission and attenuation of the pressure waves. Exploration of the site’s geology and assessment of potential adverse impacts should be conducted before the specifications for the project are written. Reduction of the pressure waves without other added mitigation differs for each class of sources. Additional mitigation varies by source class, the site’s geology, the water depth at the source and at the protected zone, potential adverse impacts from the pressure waves, needed pressure-wave reduction, and the range of azimuths from the source region requiring protection