| An underwater explosion, also known as an
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| | were higher than the first wave. For
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| UNDEX, is an explosion beneath the
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| | example, at 22,000 feet (6.7 km) from the
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| surface of water. The type of explosion
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| | center, the ninth wave was the highest at
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| may be chemical or nuclear. They are
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| | 6 feet (1.8 m). Gravity caused the column
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| categorized in accordance with their
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| | to fall to the surface and caused a cloud
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| depth beneath the water's surface,
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| | of mist to move outwards rapidly from the
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| because this has a strong influence on
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| | base of the column, called the base
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| their effects.
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| | surge. The ultimate size of the base
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| Effects
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| | surge was 3½ miles (5½ km) in diameter
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| The effects that an underwater explosion
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| | and 1800 feet (550 m) high. The base
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| will have at a particular place depends
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| | surge rose from the surface and merged
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| on a number of parameters; the energy of
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| | with other products of the explosion, to
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| the explosion, the depth of the
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| | form clouds which produced moderate to
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| explosion, the depth of the water from
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| | heavy rainfall for nearly one hour.
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| the surface to the sea bottom, and the
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| | Deep underwater explosion
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| distance from the place to the explosion.
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| | An example of a deep underwater explosion
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| Underwater explosions are categorized by
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| | is the WAHOO test, which was carried out
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| the depth of the explosion. Shallow
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| | in 1958 as part of Operation Hardtack.
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| underwater explosions are those where the
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| | The nuclear device was detonated at a
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| crater formed at the water's surface is
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| | depth of 500 feet (150 m) in deep water.
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| large in comparison with the depth of the
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| | There was little evidence of a fireball.
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| explosion. Deep underwater explosions are
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| | The spray dome rose to a height of 900
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| those where the crater is small in
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| | feet (270 m). Gas from the bubble broke
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| comparison with the depth of the
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| | through the spray dome to form jets which
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| explosion.
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| | shot out in all directions and reached
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| Shallow underwater explosion
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| | heights of up to 1700 feet (520 m). The
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| An example of a shallow underwater
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| | base surge at its maximum size was 2½
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| explosion is the BAKER nuclear test at
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| | miles (4 km) in diameter and 1000 feet
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| Bikini Atoll in July 1946, which was part
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| | (300 m) high.
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| of Operation Crossroads. A 20 kiloton
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| | The heights of surface waves generated by
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| warhead was detonated in a lagoon which
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| | deep underwater explosions are greater
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| was approximately 200 feet (60 m) deep.
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| | because more energy is delivered to the
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| The first effect was illumination of the
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| | water. Deep underwater explosions are
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| water because of the underwater fireball.
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| | thus particularly able to damage coastal
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| A rapidly expanding gas bubble created a
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| | areas, because surface waves increase in
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| shock wave that caused an expanding ring
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| | height as they move over shallow water,
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| of apparently dark water at the surface,
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| | and can flood the land beyond the
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| called the slick, followed by an
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| | shoreline. Many of the theories and
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| expanding ring of apparently white water,
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| | concepts about these waves are similar to
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| called the crack. A mound of water and
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| | those that are applicable to other types
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| spray, called the spray dome, formed at
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| | of surface waves, in particular,
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| the water's surface which became more
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| | tsunamis, and waves generated by the fall
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| columnar as it rose. When the rising gas
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| | of a meteor.
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| bubble broke the surface, it ejected gas
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| | If a deep underwater explosion occurs at
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| into the air, which condensed to form a
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| | a sufficient depth, the rising gas bubble
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| Wilson cloud because of the shock wave.
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| | can overexpand because the gas pressure
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| Water filling the cavity formed by the
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| | falls below the pressure of the
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| bubble caused a hollow column of water,
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| | surrounding water. This causes the bubble
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| called the chimney or plume, to rise 6000
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| | to collapse, which causes a second shock
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| feet (1800 m) in the air and break
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| | wave and bubble expansion. This may be
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| through the top of the Wilson cloud. A
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| | repeated, though there are unlikely to be
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| series of surface waves moved outwards
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| | more than three expansions. An example is
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| from the center. The first wave was about
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| | the WIGWAM test, which was carried out
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| 94 feet (29 m) high at 1000 feet (300 m)
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| | under Operation Wigwam in 1955. The
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| from the center. Other waves followed,
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| | nuclear device was detonated at a depth
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| and at further distances some of these
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| | of 2000 feet (600 m).
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