For hundreds and hundreds of years, sailors have been telling stories of encountering monstrous ocean waves, which tower over one hundred feet in the air and toss ships about like corks.
In the past, oceanographers discounted these reports as tall tales---just embellished stories of mariners with too much time at sea.
But not anymore.
Such massive rogue waves do in fact exist. Only problem is, their origin remains a mystery of the deep.
Experts say about one ship is lost every week in the world's oceans, and this is mostly due to poor seamanship or severe weather. Well, at least a small percentage of sea disappearances are due to encounters with rogue waves.
Experienced captains describe rogue waves as a "hole in the sea" or a "wall of water." To add to the mystery, some rogue waves have been said to appear mid-ocean and often in calm weather.
How big can rogue waves get?
Well, on the open sea, waves can commonly reach 23 feet in height, and in extreme conditions such waves can reach heights of 49 feet. But a rogue wave can be as tall as a ten-story building, which is around 100 feet.
Hard to imagine right?
Well, we know they can happen, but why do they form?
Here are some "possible" causes
1. Diffractive focusing--coast shape or seabed shape directs several small waves to meet in phase
2. Focusing on currents--storm forced waves are driven into an opposing current
3. Normal part of the wave spectrum
4. Wind Waves
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