Terrifying 3D Rogue Waves Reach 65 Feet And Shatter Old Science (Video)
This may seem obvious, Geometry 101, but here we go: waves are three-dimensional.
In fact, almost anything you can touch, hold, and pretty much any tangible object is 3D. Grab your phone – it has a length, width, and height. But waves, in particular, have long been measured in a two-dimensional manner, i.e., by the height only.
What happens when you factor in the length and width? The video below dives into the mythology of rogue waves, or freak ocean waves that sailors whispered about for ages, and Hollywood has imagined on the big screen, and quantifies the phenomena.
The video, titled “rogue waves are now four times more massive than scientists thought,” explains a study in which researchers attempted to recreate open ocean conditions. They built a circular tub with 168 paddles, each pushing water in different directions. The result was a mishmash of water, with waves converging, and wedging upward.
Per the video description:
“Have you ever wondered what creates the massive, unpredictable walls of water that terrify even the most experienced sailors? Our brand new video dives into a groundbreaking recent study revealing that terrifying rogue waves can actually grow up to four times larger and steeper than scientists ever thought physically possible.
“We break down the incredible physics behind ‘crossing waves,’ showing exactly how multidirectional ocean swells can converge and continue growing long after normal waves would have already broken apart. If you are fascinated by the terrifying power of the deep ocean, obsessed with extreme weather phenomena, or just love seeing established physics completely rewritten, you absolutely need to see this deep dive.”
So, how big can rogue waves reach? According to another recent study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, researcher Francesco Fedele explained:
“These puzzling giants are brief, typically lasting less than a minute before disappearing. They can reach heights of 65 feet (20 meters) or greater and often more than twice the height of surrounding waves. Once a nautical myth, rogue waves have now been observed around the world. Because they're so tall and powerful, they can pose a danger to ships and offshore structures.”
3D 65-foot rogue waves…beware.