Hazard assessment method for underwater potentially hazardous objects

The article describes a method for assessing the danger of Underwater Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHUOs). The method based on data on the maximum permissible concentrations of hazardous substances in marine areas. For using the proposed method, accurate information of type of hazardous substances contained in the protective shells of the PHUO, and their quantity are required. To assess the scale of pollution of water areas, data on the depth of the object and the hydrological characteristics of the water area are required. A salvo release is considered as a mechanism for the release of hazardous substances from the PHUO, as the most destructive for the water area where underwater potentially dangerous object is located. The concepts of "shallow sea" and "deep sea" are introduced. For these concepts, the features of the distribution of hazardous substances from PHUO are determined. A criterion is given that allows making the right choice of the algorithm for calculating the spread of hazardous substances in the water area of the PHUO. Algorithms for estimating the parameters of the distribution of hazardous substances in the conditions of "shallow" and "deep" sea, in the presence and in the absence of underwater currents, are given.