Project name: MRN07: Study of sand dynamics at small scale to evaluate the risk of mine burial.
The project MRN07 aims to evaluate the necessary time for partial or total burial of objects in shallow water (<50m depth) by studying the sand dynamics at a small scale on the BCS in both time and space domain. Several techniques will be used to reach this goal: time series of side scan sonar measurements will be performed, boxcores for validation of acoustic images will be taken and instrumented mines are deployed in strategic site to investigate small-scale variability of sand dynamics over long periods, 3 to 12 months each site. The areas of analysis will be chosen in the first instance by considering scientific criteria and then their economical and social value. In the range of areas with good scientific characteristics, it will be preferred to make measurements in sites densely populated by ships and fishermen. This choice is due to the fact that the research will be used for military and civil application regarding the safety of human life on the North Sea