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Science & Technology |
Record ocean waves are recorded |
2006-04-03 |
British scientists report observing some of the largest waves ever measured -- reportedly so big, some computer models indicate they shouldn't even exist. The observations occurred Feb. 8, 2000, aboard the Royal Research Ship Discovery during a scientific expedition to the North Atlantic, 155 miles west of Scotland, when a series of gigantic waves hammered the vessel. The scientists set to sea because an intense storm was forecast and the researchers from Britain's National Oceanography Center, located in Southampton, wanted to closely observe it, der Spiegel reported. The scientists' measuring instruments showed the tallest of the waves was nearly 98 feet high and the giant waves shook the ship for 12 hours, said Naomi Holliday, the leader of the expedition. The Discovery's crew witnessed waves of up to 95 feet from trough to crest -- the highest waves ever measured by a scientific instrument on the open sea, according to an article the scientists published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The new data may be troubling for shipbuilders, said der Spiegel, since the scientists' data suggest giant waves may be much more common than has been thought. I find it hard to even imagine waves of that height. The RRS Discovery is 90 meters in length, and would be heading right towards the incoming waves. This means 95 feet downward at a 45-or-so degree angle, followed by 95 feet upward at a 45-or-so degree angle, FOR TWELVE HOURS. Urp. |
Posted by:Anonymoose |
#8 Science news this week - sunlight getting dimmer, sunlight reaching earth is less, Pacific Ocean gettin' more acidic, and the Artic, or Greenland, will be green and slushy within 50 years, plus PLANET X = X's still approaching. IOW, we're doomed, Doomed, DOOMED, D-O-O-M-E-D, DUUUUUMMMMMEEEDDD they tell ya'. |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-04-03 22:51 |
#7 Operation Kraken is currently underway. Fortunately, most of even our own operatives believe this op is designed to generate massive waves at surface level in oceanic bodies. Little do they know that our bioengineers have been closely monitoring events in other areas of the world and have been preparing for our aquatic servants. Reports of the Cthulhu-cult "god" Dagon and mysterious "Deep Ones" attacking and destroying our North Sea oceanic platforms is pure myth. Our platforms that have been lost have been lost to natural phenomena and, although multiple personnel have been reported missing from other platfoms, we are confident that these disappearances are due to the strange weather and other environmental phenomena and not some mythical "god-like" entity. Operation Kraken is to proceed according to plan. Operations Dragon, Gorgon, and Gryphon are on schedule. Operation Tsunmi remains on hold until blame can be placed properly on HAARP or another DARPA project. Operations It Came From Beneath The Sea and Twenty Million Miles To Earth are also on schedule despite the recent "odd" events surrounding the loss of our Mars probes and sub-oceanic exploration of the ruins discovered in the Marianis and Puerto Rico Trench areas. Yours, Dir, OMD |
Posted by: Halliburton Monster Division 2006-04-03 21:52 |
#6 Who bought the New Orleans wet-bus on E-bay? Ray may soon want it BACK! |
Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-03 21:46 |
#5 Shhhhh ..... didn't you get the memo on the project code name? Sheesh. |
Posted by: lotp 2006-04-03 21:10 |
#4 If that's what you want to believe, lotp. |
Posted by: Halliburton, North Atlantic Div. 2006-04-03 21:01 |
#3 Kraken arises! |
Posted by: lotp 2006-04-03 20:28 |
#2 I'd bet that wasn't the only thing that came up. |
Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-03 20:21 |
#1 Surf's up!!! |
Posted by: Zenster 2006-04-03 20:19 |