Unexpected and Unexploded

Munitions dropped decades ago on once desolate coasts often show up today in areas that have become more developed and inhabited. WHOI scientist Peter Traykovski is investigating where unexploded ordnances are and how they are moved and buried along the coast. He and colleagues place objects that mimic munitions on the seafloor. The objects are equipped with transponders that send out acoustic signals. Instruments placed on the seafloor “hear” the acoustic signals, which let scientists track how the objects are moved or buried over time, especially after storms. Their undersea apparatus also includes instruments that measure waves, currents, and sand movement. (Photo by Peter Traykovski, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)