An unusually large, unpredictable ocean wave that appears suddenly amid otherwise normal sea conditions, far exceeding the height statistically expected for the surrounding waves and capable of overwhelming even large, seaworthy vessels. Long dismissed as maritime legend, rogue waves gained confirmed physical measurement in 1995 when the Draupner platform in the North Sea recorded an 84-foot wave amid seas averaging about 39 feet.
Facts
PeriodicityOccur in all the world's oceans many times each day 1 ScaleDraupner wave of 1 January 1995 reached a maximum height of 25.6 m (84 ft) 1 First DescribedFirst scientific measurement: Draupner platform, 1 January 1995 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceWave whose height is more than twice the significant wave height of the surrounding sea 1 Sources
1. Rogue wave, Wikipedia
Frequency
Rogue waves are now known to occur in all of the world's oceans many times each day.
Draupner wave, 1995
At 15:24 UTC on 1 January 1995, the device recorded a rogue wave with a maximum wave height of 25.6 m (84 ft).
Draupner wave, first measurement
At 15:24 UTC on 1 January 1995, the device recorded a rogue wave with a maximum wave height of 25.6 m (84 ft).
Introduction, definition
rogue waves are more precisely defined as waves whose heights are more than twice the significant wave height
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