Rogue waves are a bit of an enigma. They’re massive waves at least twice as high as the ones before or after them. Yet these waves seemingly come from nowhere, and their history dates back millenia. Now experts are uncovering their secrets, hoping to better understand and even predict where they might occur.
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Rogue waves are a bit of an enigma.
00:05They're massive waves at least twice as high as the ones before or after them, yet these
00:10waves seemingly come from nowhere, and their history dates back millennia.
00:14New technology has allowed marine researchers to capture more data on these oceanic behemoths,
00:18with some measuring upwards of 85 feet tall.
00:21However, experts, like rogue wave researcher Alessandro Toffoli, say there still isn't
00:26enough data to know how often or where or when they might occur.
00:29Still, they're beginning to glean insights into how they form.
00:32One of the most important instigators is wave overlap, or when multiple waves occur at the
00:37same place at the same time.
00:38There is also evidence that wind plays a part, pushing new waves higher and higher until
00:42they outpace the wind itself.
00:44Toffoli says that recent observations show that unique sea conditions with rogue waves
00:48can arise during the young stage, when waves are particularly responsive to the wind.
00:53But the jury is still out with regards to what role the wind plays directly.
00:56However, one thing is clear.
00:58Multiple waves can cause self-amplification, where one wave grows disproportionately at
01:02the expense of its neighbors, which Toffoli suggests is key to understanding how rogue
01:07waves form.