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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
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SEQUENCE:0
UID:UW-Physics-Event-1750
DTSTART:20100119T180500Z
DURATION:PT1H0M0S
DTSTAMP:20260422T181541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20100119T153553Z
LOCATION:4274 Chamberlin
SUMMARY:An Aamazing Freak Wave\, Chaos & Complex Systems Seminar\, Chi
 n H. Wu
DESCRIPTION:Freak waves\, alternatively called rogue waves or giant wa
 ves\, are exceptionally large\, steep\, and asymmetric waves whose hei
 ghts usually exceed by 2.2 times the significant wave height. They hav
 e also been described as "holes in the sea"\, "walls of waters"\, or t
 hree sisters! These waves have been long known to be notorious hazards
  to navigation vessels and marine structures. Many sinister marine epi
 sodes and their devastating impacts have prompted a great interest in 
 freak waves. With little warning\, freak waves often mysteriously occu
 r as transient giant waves from wave groups in random coastal and open
  seas. While statistical methods are widely employed in examining the 
 occurrence of such extreme sea conditions\, it is still unclear whethe
 r freak waves are rare realization of a typical population or typical 
 realization of a rare population. Likewise\, it is unclear the physica
 l mechanisms of freak wave formation and its characteristics. In this 
 talk\, we will report the recent laboratory measurements on limiting f
 reak waves on currents. It is found that wave group structure is criti
 cal to determine the formation and the geometric properties of freak w
 aves. Strong opposing currents inducing partial wave-blocking can sign
 ificantly promote the freak waves\, which occur often in the Great Lak
 es and Oceans.
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=1750
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