The mystery of giant waves

A study said high-deadly waves of hundreds of minutes may appear suddenly at sea. Scientists add that understanding how these giant waves form can help predict when they will appear or even direct them to enemy ships for combat.

For centuries these deadly waves are considered myths - towering water walls are the cause of the mysterious disappearance of ships. However, on the occasion of welcoming the new year in 1995, scientific equipment in an oil platform in the North Sea detected a wave of 80 minutes in height, confirming the existence of these legendary waves.

After that, the European Union deployed the MaxWave Project, relying on the satellite radar image of the European Space Agency to detect similar waves around the world. Scientists are trying to find a way to discover what makes these monsters.

Small waves can gather to become a huge wave.(Photo: LiveScience)

Previous research suggests that hundreds of miles of ocean are needed to allow giant waves to appear and disappear . But today, scientists discover such waves can quickly form without the aforementioned conditions.

To study these waves, scientists experimented with liquid helium in a cavity just 1 inch wide, which has properties similar to the sea. Researcher Peter McClintock and a physicist at Lancaster University (UK) said: 'The basic principle is similar'.

Usually a large wave breaks into smaller waves over time, until the viscosity of the fluid stops the small waves. However, scientists have demonstrated that the opposite can happen in liquids - small waves that can gather to become extremely large waves 'appear surprisingly fast' . McClintock told LiveScience: 'I am sure that is the way the giant waves form.'

Studies should focus on the repulsive force of such waves moving across the sea - such as the wind or the attraction of the moon. The creation of artificial waves requires tremendous amounts of energy, but we are fully capable of controlling giant waves to save large ships, attack rafts, or even transform them to run. turbine and power generation, 'although it's still a far-fetched idea, McClintock said

McClintock and colleagues will detail their findings in the upcoming issue of Physical Review Letters.