Analysis of Seismic, Hydroacoustic and Acoustic Waves Recorded on the Shoreline in the Vicinity of Shallow Underwater Explosions

The French Navy Mine Warfare Office conducted a series of 8 calibrated underwater explosions in December 2018 in the Bay of Hyères, SE France. The charges were ranging from 80 to 680 kg TNT-equivalent weights and the generated mechanical waves have been recorded at 17 seismic stations (composed of velocimeters, accelerometers and/or Microelectomechanical system accelerometers) temporarily deployed within 10 km of the sources. The large sampling rate recordings (> 250 Hz) allow to clearly identify both seismic, hydroacoustic and acoustic waves on the shoreline. The hydroacoustic phases, mostly observed at the rocky sites, rapidly attenuate when propagating on land and seem to be conditioned by the bathymetry and the seabed sedimentary cover. The hydroacoustic onset times can be used very efficiently to infer explosion locations and origin times. The spectrum analyses and site response along the shore and inside a building (church) provide insights on the mitigation of the possible nuisance caused by the disposal of unexploded historical ordnance.