New understanding of the “dangerous phenomenon” of unusually large ocean waves could help inform the design of oil platforms and other offshore structures, researchers have said.
So-called rogue waves, which are exceptionally powerful and dangerous, can be exacerbated when they are produced by two sets of waves crossing at a particular angle, a study has found.
This phenomenon, which researchers say has been demonstrated in an experiment for the first time, is believed to have played a part in producing a 25-metre wave, known as the Draupner wave, which struck a North Sea oil platform in 1995.
Experiments carried out in an ocean research facility showed that when waves intersect at an angle greater than approximately 60 degrees, they cause the surface level of the ocean to rise.
Witness FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility demonstrations at King’s Buildings on @DoorsOpenDays: https://t.co/o1KGDrVGtg pic.twitter.com/sNDAHtMbKK
— The University of Edinburgh (@EdinburghUni) September 21, 2017
This adds to the overall height of the resulting combined wave.
Dr Ton van den Bremer, who led the study while at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This improves understanding of rogue waves, decades after this aspect of their behaviour was suggested.
“The more we know about this dangerous phenomenon, the better equipped we will be to design offshore structures and to navigate the oceans.”
Experiments were carried out in the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility at the University of Edinburgh.
The testing tank is able to simulate ocean currents and waves of any type, which are monitored using overhead sensors.
Researchers used the 25-metre circular tank to study the complex interactions that occur when waves cross in open water.
The study, published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, was carried out in collaboration with the University of Oxford and supported by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr Mark McAllister, who took part in the research while at the University of Edinburgh, said: “These experiments provide new insight into how a heightened, or set-up, wave actually forms.
“They revealed that this behaves like a partial standing wave, which forms underneath waves as they cross.
“This insight allowed us to create a simple theory to predict when such waves might occur.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here