Monday, July 7, 2025

Did you know there are “rogue holes” in the ocean in addition to “rogue waves”




Map found on Wista.de 
This image above shows four different types of wave motions in ocean dynamics, showcasing examples of normal and extreme sea states.
 
It comes from this report: Ocean rogue waves and their phase space dynamics in the limit of a linear interference model. (Birkholz, S. et al. Ocean rogue waves and their phase space dynamics in the limit of a linear interference model. Sci. Rep. 6, 35207; doi: 10.1038/srep35207 (2016))


Imagine being on a boat in the middle of the ocean on a seemingly calm day.
There are waves in the water as usual, and there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. Suddenly, you notice that in the middle of the waves, a vast void more than 80 feet (24 meters) deep is formed, and the water seems to sink as if something is absorbing it from below.
But you're on the high seas.
Underside that voids forming on the water's surface, there's just more water, yet that considerable void creates a current that drags everything around it.
The waves, the foam of the water, and the boat you are on begin to be swept into the void as if they are being sucked into a giant whirlpool that appeared out of nowhere.
The boat begins to sink into that void, and you notice that you are now below sea level while the boat is about to be entirely covered by the waves you used to see from above.
Although it sounds like a science fiction movie, this scenario could happen.
What is happening is nothing more than an "Oceanic Rogue Holes," an anomaly in the ocean that causes the formation of a large hole in the surface of the water.
This oceanographic phenomenon represents a great danger to ships as it could cause even a huge modern ship to capsize.
Could it be that this phenomenon is responsible for many shipwrecks that remain unsolved?
Or is this kind of phenomenon completely impossible?
Rebel Ocean Holes, or oceanic rogue holes, are the opposite of Rebel Ocean Waves, which we discussed in previous videos.
They are oceanic phenomena in which the depth of a hole in the water can reach twice or more the depth of the surrounding voids that occur when a wave falls under its weight.
When a wave occurs in the ocean, it obtains water from its surroundings to grow upwards.
By doing so, the water around the wave descends below sea level, causing what we know as an oceanic vacuum.
This void also occurs when a wave falls under its weight and produces a push of water downwards, causing another new void. 
 
More about them:
  • Normal Seastate: Represents typical ocean wave activity with small, relatively uniform wave heights.
Such conditions are common during calm weather or under normal sea-state conditions.
Waves in this category are predictable and exhibit low energy compared to extreme waves.
  • Rogue Wave: A large and unexpected wave that is much higher than the surrounding waves.
Often referred to as “freak waves,” rogue waves can appear suddenly and are a significant hazard to ships.
These waves occur due to constructive interference, where multiple wave crests align to form a single massive wave.
  • Rogue Hole: This is an inverse phenomenon of a rogue wave, where an unusually deep trough forms in the sea surface.
Such “holes” in the sea can appear abruptly, posing risks to vessels as they may encounter sudden destabilization.
Rogue holes are thought to result from destructive interference or particular wave dynamics.
  • “Three Sisters”:Refers to a sequence of three large waves occurring in close succession.
This phenomenon is particularly dangerous because vessels that survive the first wave might be overwhelmed by the subsequent waves.
The “Three Sisters” phenomenon is often associated with storms or nonlinear interactions in wave trains.

Here’s a simplified summary of the original report:

What Was Studied?

Scientists studied how big, dangerous waves (called “rogue waves”) form in the ocean.
They used a simple model where smaller waves combine in random ways.
This study helps predict when and where these dangerous waves might happen.

Key Findings:
  • How Rogue Waves Form:
When fewer than 10 small waves combine, no rogue waves happen.
If more than 10 waves combine, rogue waves are much more likely.
  • Why This Matters:
Rogue waves can happen more often than we thought, depending on how waves mix and how the wind affects them.
  • How We Can Predict Rogue Waves:
Scientists used a tool (called the Grassberger-Procaccia analysis) to study ocean wave patterns.
This tool helps figure out if the right number of waves is combining to create a rogue wave.
Wind conditions can also affect how rogue waves form, especially if winds come from many directions or are very strong.
  • What’s New?
The study found that understanding how waves mix is key to predicting rogue waves. The shape and number of waves are more important than just their size.
  • How This Helps Us:
Scientists might be able to use this information to create devices that monitor ocean waves in real-time. These devices could warn ships about dangerous rogue waves.
  • Next Steps:
More research is needed to understand how wind patterns and other ocean conditions affect rogue waves. This could make warnings even better.
 
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