MAR 110 LECTURE #20 Storm-Generated & Rogue Waves

Wave Principles Review

Figure 20.1 Principles (ABOVE) A simple is a level distortion that repeats itself over a distance called the wavelength (L - symbol for wavelength). The (H) is the distance between the high-point or crest and the low-point or trough of the wave. (BELOW) Ocean waves propagate (to the right in this case). A stationary observer at the crest to the right will initially will see the sea surface drop until the trough passes and then rise as the second crest approaches. It takes the wave period (P) for this cycle. Thus the wave travels one wavelength during a wave period and thus the speed of a wave (Cp) the ratio L/P. During the wave propagates past our observer, a surface water parcel traces a circular trajectory with no net movement of the water. (ItO, ???)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 & Rogue Waves 1 Wave Principles – Deep Water Waves

Wave Speed Depends on Wavelength - L

Cp (ft/s) = 2.26 √ L (ft)

Figure 20.2 Deep Water Waves Deep water waves are those waves that propagate in water with a depth (D) that is greater than ½ the wave length (L = the distance between wave crests). Notice that the size of the circular trajectories of the water parcels diminishes to nearly zero at a water depth of 1/2 L. The speed of a deep water wave is different for waves with different wave lengths, such that waves with longer wave lengths go faster; according to the formula given above. (ItO)

Wave Speed Depends on Water Depth - D

Cp (ft/s) = 5.67 √ D (ft)

Figure 20.3 Shallow Water Waves Shallow water waves propagate in water depths D, which are less than 1/20 L. The trajectories of shallow water (SW) wave parcels are elliptical (squashed circles) and their width is the same throughout the . Because shallow water waves “feel the bottom”, their speed depends only on the local water depth, according to the formula given above. Thus SW waves slow down as they propagate from deeper water to shallower water; (ItO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 2 Wave Spectrum

Figure 20.4 Spectrum of Ocean Surface Waves An ocean wave spectrum shows how the wave energy (proportional to the square of the wave height) is distributed among the waves with different wave periods. While most waves are generated by the wind and have periods less than a minute, there are important other wave categories, (e.g., ) that have periods of hours. The shorter wave period & wave length waves are wind-generated waves are called “chop” (lower left); while the longer wave period & wave length waves are called “” (lower right) (ItO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 3 Wave Energy Transmission via Wave Groups

Figure 20.5 Wave Energy Transmission & Wave Groups Deep ocean waves with slightly different wavelengths superimpose to form wave groups with speeds (Cg) that are half that of individual wave speeds (Cp). Because the individual waves move faster than the wave group and energy (Cp = 2 Cg), individual waves are seen to (a) appear at the back of the wave group (b) propagate through the slower-moving wave group; and finally (c) disappear at the head of the wave group.

Wave Energy Transmission Speed

Wave Group

Deep Water Wave Group Speed Cg Depends on Wavelength BUT

Cg = ½ Cp This means that LONGER WAVES = 1.13 √ L go faster than SHORTER WAVES ! Figure 20.6 Deep Water Wave Energy Transmission Deep ocean waves with slightly different wavelengths form wave groups – which are distinguished by their wave height envelope; which contains the wave energy. The wave group speed for deep water waves (Cg) is ½ the wave speed Cp. The form of the deep water wave group speed - given by the relation above - indicates that the longer wave length, deep water waves travel faster than shorter wave length waves.

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 4 Wave Energy Transmission Speed

Wave Group

Shallow Water Wave Group Speed

Depends on Water Depth AND

Cg = Cp This means that

Cg (ft/s) = 5.67 √ D(ft) ALL Shallow Water Waves go the same speed!

Figure 20.7 Shallow Water Wave Energy Transmission The shallow water wave group speed Cg is equal to the wave speed Cp and thus depends on only the local water depth D, according to the above.

Figure 20.8 The Generation of Surface Waves by Hurricane winds are very effective wave generators. In the northern hemisphere, the largest waves are on the right-hand quadrant of the hurricane because the winds there are the sum of the storm winds plus the forward movement of the storm. (ItO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 5 STORM-GENERATED WAVES

Figure 20.9 Open Ocean Generation and (Upper) In the wind-generation region, the ocean is rough and chaotic because waves with all different wavelengths superimpose and interfere with each other (lower left). As the waves propagate toward the right and away from the generation zone, the waves sort according to wave group speed. The longer wavelength/longer period waves known as “swell” (lower right) “race” out ahead of the shorter wavelength/shorter period waves.. (ItO)

Deep Water Wave Propagation – Pacific Ocean - Summer

WAVE PROPAGATION ZONE

“Longer Waves Outrace Shorter Waves ”

STORM WAVE GENERATION ZONE

“Waves of ALL Wavelengths”

Figure 20.10 The strong winter storms in the Southern Ocean generate waves that have a long time (& distance) to sort themselves out according to wave length before they strike the southwest facing shores of California. (NH, ItO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 6 Rogue Wave Measurement…….by

Figure 20.11 With satellite altimeters it is now possible to find-and measure-rogue waves. Since the can cover far more of the ocean than can be observed by at any one time, it was discovered that rogue waves are a far more common occurrence than was previously thought (NH)

Rogue Wave Hazard

Figure 20.12 Rogue Wave Hazard Rogue waves are very large open ocean waves of sometimes can range in height from 60 ft (20m) to120 feet (40m) and thus a significant hazard to large tanker ships. (???)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 7 Figure 20.13 Constructive -Rogue Waves (RIGHT) The real ocean has waves of all wave heights and wavelengths, Occasionally , a long wave (wave #1) and a wave half its wavelength (wave #2) will constructively interfere with each other to form and exceptionally large wave – a rogue wave) . (LEFT) The probability of rogue wave generation is very high in the Agulhus Current region because of the environmental conditions there. (ItO)

Rogue Wave Height Estimates

60 ft

112 ft !

Figure 20.14 Rogue Wave Height Estimates Until recently it was believed that rogue waves were very rare events. The only records of wave height came from estimates of people onboard ships that used line of sight to the crest of the wave to calculate the height. (??)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 8 Rogue Waves in the

Figure 20.15 Rogue Waves in the Agulhas Current The region where the Agulhas Current meets Antarctic storm waves and West Wind Drift is known for having a relatively high occurrence of rogue waves. (ItO, LEiO)

Shallow Water or Short Wave Characteristics

Water Depth D is less than 1/20 L

Figure 20.16 Shallow Water Waves (BELOW) As deep water waves - that is propagate into water depths D that are less than ½ their wave length L - the wave and the ocean bottom interact or the wave is said to “feel the bottom”. When this happens, the wave slows and the water parcel orbits become more elongated. (ABOVE) At the point where the water depth D is les than 1/20 of the wave length L , the waves becomes a shallow water wave, which as it further increases in height until the wave breaks as it approaches the beach. (LEiO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 9 Breaking Waves

Hawaiian Waves

Figure 20.17 Wave Breaking As the water gets shallower, the wave height increases until the point where the wave breaks due to gravity. (LEiO)

Note the misnomer “riptide”

Rip Currents derive from the power of the incoming waves

have little to do with the tides

Figure 20.18 Zones Tell-tale signs of rip current zones along this California beach. (ItO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 10 Rip Currents

….water accumulating on the beach MUST return… …and it does in concentrated jets..

Figure 20.19 Rip Current Mechanics The incoming water from waves breaking in the all along the beach returns to the ocean (as it must) in concentrated offshore current flows called rip currents. (ItO)

Figure 20.20 Rip Current Patterns The Incoming waves move water inshore all along the beach front. Water accumulation creates setup (pressure gradient forces) that drive the accumulated water back offshore in concentrated rip current zones at regular intervals along the shore. (LEiO)

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 11

Santa Ana Wind-Wave Generation

25 nm

Figure 20.21 Wind-Generated Waves Scenario The southward flowing Santa Ana winds generate waves in the Santa Catalina Channel. However, because it is a fetch-limited generation zone, the waves are not very well sorted when they strike the shores of Santa Catalina island.

22 October 2007 Lec 20 Wind & Rogue Waves 12