The Hindu Business Line : All at sea

When RRS Discovery, a British research vessel, set out to sea, the crew was expecting stormy weather as the meteorologists had predicted storm and the scientists on board, all from Britain's National Oceanography Centre, were preparing themselves to observe it from close. What they ended up experiencing, according to Marinetalk News, was far beyond anything they had imagined. Near the island of Rockall, 250 km west of Scotland, the Discovery's crew witnessed the largest waves ever measured by a scientific instrument in the open sea. With height up to 29 metres from trough to crest, the single waves were the highest ever measured. In terms of significant wave height, which is the median height of a wave's upper third, a new record was established: 18.5 metres.

More astonishing, the giant waves did not disappear individually but in a group, contrary to earlier belief. The scientists feel that the new data might spell trouble for sailors and shipbuilders. Also, since the waves observed were not predicted by computer simulation, this might have implications for the construction of ships and oil rigs.

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