Scripps Institution of Oceanography

This primer is for fleet use as a means of rapid access to information on scour, burial, and re-exposure of bottom mines placed in nearshore waters. The format is easily adapted to a computer slide show where sequential illustrations such as progressive mine scour and burial could be in animated form. The illustrations detail mechanisms and burial rates characteristic of coastal and sediment type. The primer also addresses the ranges of uncertainty in mine burial estimates by showing burial dependence on mine characteristics and environmental factors. By providing both burial rate estimates and the probable error of those estimates, this primer facilitates tactical use and planning, particularly in areas of denied access. The emphasis here is on field experiments of the scour and burial of bottom mines in shallow and very shallow water (3 m - 61 m) and their comparison with simulations from computer models. However, the complexity of mine warfare and mine use makes it necessary to briefly discuss categories of mines, their basic components, and their means of delivery and planting. The reader is advised to consult the references for detailed information on these related topics. We understand that other studies of bottom mine burial have been made. Here, we report on those studies that have been declassified and made available to us.