On January 1, 1995 a North Sea platform helped crack one of the ocean’s most elusive legends. Twenty-two years ago the first ever rogue wave was recorded by a measuring instrument on the North Sea’s Draupner platform.
The freak wave had a maximum wave height of 25.6 metres (84ft) – peak elevation above still water level was 18.5 metres (61ft). It was the first time a monster wave, which fisherman used to describe in folklore as emerging from unassuming conditions, was recorded. Damage on the platform reinforced the measurement findings.
The rogue hit was later dubbed the Draupner Wave. Prior to its confirmation, science dismissed rogue waves as folklore and legends sailors told to pass the time at sea. Mathematical models prior to the North Sea discovery wrongly calculated storm waves to peak at between 12 and 15m.
The Draupner Wave was recorded by special laser-based wave detector at 3.20pm on New Years Day. The crew, which has been ordered to stay inside, didn’t see the wave, but later discovered the groundbreaking recording.
Learn more about how the Draupner Wave changed the course of science by watching the video above.
Video courtesy of Physics Girl.
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