Rogue waves are also known as freak waves. They are quite large but also casual waves that can sink even large ships and ocean liners. "In oceanography, they are more concisely defined as waves that are more than double the significant wave height (SWH), which is itself defined as the mean of the largest third of waves in a wave record.Once thought to be only legendary, they are now known to be a natural ocean phenomenon, not rare,but rarely encountered."
On June 23rd 2008, the Suwa Maru which was a fishing boat with 20 crew members; sank in seemingly normal sea conditions in Cape Inubosaki. Reports from investigators said that even though originally reported wave heights were between 2 and 3 meters (6.5 and 9.8 feet) almost the size of a regulation basketball hoop. However, the ship may have encountered unusual waves, probably twice, or three times the size of the waves originally reported. These abnormal waves, sunk the ship in 10 minutes.
"Using a hindcast wave simulation using a model driven by wind and ocean current, the authors find that at the time of the accident wave steepness increased and waves became long crested, creating a sea state favorable for freak wave occurrence." The ship was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. With the heavy pressures from the rising speed of winds, the swell system grew exponentially, causing the wave to expand constantly . This created the dangerously moving waters to create this freakish sea condition.
website: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128183927.htm
picture: http://www.polarsurf.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/big-wave-boatsome----placid----ocean-photos---actually-rogue-waves-and-huge-waves-nv0p7kdc.jpg
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