Australian scientists from the University of Melbourne discovered the reason for the appearance of monster waves – huge waves of water that suddenly appear in the ocean. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Physical Review Letters (PRL).
Monster waves are single waves 20-30 meters high that form for no apparent reason. They pose a great danger to ships and coastal infrastructure. Such waves have been recorded 16 times in the 21st century.
To study this phenomenon, the team went on an expedition to the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. Using stereo cameras, the researchers recorded characteristic patterns in the behavior of the water surface.
Scientists have found that in some cases the wind contributes to the self-reinforcement of the waves, causing the waves to become higher and longer.
According to the researchers, the observations are confirmed by laboratory experiments. The authors of the study noted that monster waves will begin to appear more frequently and become stronger in the coming years due to destabilization of global weather conditions and climate change.
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