The highest-ever wave detected by a buoy has been recorded in the North Atlantic ocean, the World Meteorological Organization has said.
The 19-metre (62.3ft) wave happened between Iceland and the United Kingdom, off the Outer Hebrides.
It was created in the aftermath of a very strong cold front with 43.8 knot (50.4mph) winds on 4 February 2013.
The WMO, which released the data, said the previous record was 18.275 metres (59.96ft) in December 2007.
That wave was also in the North Atlantic.
It is not the biggest-ever recorded wave, however. In 2002 a ship spotted a 29-metre (95 ft) North Atlantic wave.
This is why I lubb the land.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday December 16 2016, @07:15PM
Sure is, and they're trying, but the only structures that can even hope to hold steady in those kind of conditions are, ironically, oil drilling platforms, which are quite expensive - ROI would take a long time, and big wave energy is even less reliable than wind.
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(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday December 16 2016, @07:26PM
Technically, it doesn't need to hold steady. Anchoring to the bottom and being twice as tall as the tallest wave (keep COG under water) is all you need.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday December 16 2016, @07:50PM
There are a few interesting ships that do that... of course this one comes to mind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RP_FLIP [wikipedia.org]
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