Latest news with #OpenOcean
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
My research team used 18 years of sea wave records to learn how destructive ‘rogue waves' form – here's what we found
Rogue waves have captivated the attention of both seafarers and scientists for decades. These are giant, isolated waves that appear suddenly in the open ocean. These puzzling giants are brief, typically lasting less than a minute before disappearing. They can reach heights of 65 feet (20 meters) or greater and often more than twice the height of surrounding waves. Once a nautical myth, rogue waves have now been observed around the world. Because they're so tall and powerful, they can pose a danger to ships and offshore structures. To rethink what rogue waves are and what causes them, I gathered an international team of researchers. Our study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, sheds light on these oceanic giants using the most comprehensive dataset of its kind. By analyzing 18 years of high-frequency laser measurements from the Ekofisk oil platform in the central North Sea, we reached the surprising conclusion that rogue waves aren't just freak occurrences. They arise under the natural laws of the sea. They are not mysterious, but somewhat simple. 27,500 sea states We analyzed nearly 27,500 half-hour wave records, or sea states, collected between 2003 and 2020 in the central North Sea. These records, taken every 30 minutes, describe how elevated the sea surface was compared to the average sea level. They include major storms, such as the Andrea wave event in 2007. Under normal conditions, waves arise from wind blowing over the sea surface. It's like when you blow over your cup of coffee and form small ripples on the surface. At sea, with enough time and space, those ripples can turn into large waves. We focused on understanding what causes waves to suddenly go rogue and rise far above their neighboring waves. One proposed theory is based on modulational instability, a phenomenon described by complex mathematical models. I've revised these models in the past, as my work suggests that this theory doesn't fully explain what causes rogue waves in the open ocean. When waves are trapped within a narrow channel, the modulational instability theory describes their rippling movement well. However, it starts to fall apart when you look at the real ocean. In open environments such as the North Sea, waves are free to propagate from multiple directions. To understand the difference, imagine a crowd of spectators leaving a stadium after a football game. If the exit is a long, narrow hallway with tall walls, people are forced to move in a single direction. Those at the back push forward, and some may even climb over others, piling up between the confining walls. This catastrophic pileup would resemble a rogue wave, caused by their confinement. In contrast, if the stadium's exit opens onto a wide field, spectators can disperse freely in all directions. They don't push on each other, and they avoid pileups. Similarly, researchers can generate rogue waves in a confined channel in the lab, where they obey modulational instability. But without the confinement of a channel, rogue waves usually won't follow those physics or form the same way in the open sea. Our team knew we had to study the open sea directly to figure out what was really going on. The real-world data my team examined from the North Sea doesn't line up with modulational instability – it tells a different story. It's just a bad day at sea We analyzed the sea state records using statistical techniques to uncover patterns behind these rare events. Our findings show that instead of modulational instability, the extreme waves observed more likely formed through a process called constructive interference. Constructive interference happens when two or more waves line up and combine into one big wave. This effect is amplified by the natural asymmetry of sea waves – their crests are typically sharper and steeper than their flatter troughs. Rogue waves form when lots of smaller waves line up and their steeper crests begin to stack, building up into a single, massive wave that briefly rises far above its surroundings. All it takes for a peaceful boat ride to turn into a bad day at sea is a moment when many ordinary waves converge and stack. These rogue waves rise and fall in less than a minute, following what's called a quasi-deterministic pattern in space and time. This type of pattern is recognizable and repeatable, but with touches of randomness. In an idealized ocean, that randomness would almost vanish, allowing rogue waves to grow to nearly infinite heights. But it would also take an eternity to witness one of these waves, since so many would have to line up perfectly. Like waiting for Fortuna, the goddess of chance, to roll a trillion dice and have nearly all of them land on the same number. In the real ocean, nature limits how large a rogue wave can grow thanks to wave breaking. As the wave rises in height and energy, it can't hold itself beyond a certain point of no return. The tip of the wave spills over and breaks into foam, or whitecap, releasing the excess energy. The quasi-deterministic pattern behind rogue waves Rogue waves aren't limited to the sea. Constructive interference can happen to many types of waves. A general theory called the quasi-determinism of waves, developed by oceanographer Paolo Boccotti, explains how rogue waves form, both in the ocean and in other wave systems. For example, for turbulent water flowing through a confined channel, a rogue wave manifests in the form of an intense, short-lived spike in vortices – patterns of spinning swirls in the water that momentarily grow larger as they move downstream. While ocean waves seem unpredictable, Boccotti's theory shows that extreme waves are not completely random. When a really big wave forms, the waves in the sea around it follow a recognizable pattern formed through constructive interference. We applied Boccotti's theory to identify and characterize these patterns in the measured North Sea wave records. The giant waves observed in these records carry a kind of signature or fingerprint, in the form of a wave group, which can reveal how the rogue wave came to life. Think of a wave group like a small package of waves moving together. They rise, peak and then fade away through constructive interference. Tracking these wave groups allows researchers to understand the bigger picture of a rogue event as it unfolds. As one example, a powerful storm hit the North Sea on Nov. 24, 2023. A camera at the Ekofisk platform captured a massive 55 foot (17 meter) rogue wave. I applied the theory of quasi-determinism and an AI model to investigate the origin of this extreme wave. My analysis revealed that the rogue event followed these theories – quasi-determinism and constructive interference – and came from multiple smaller waves repeatedly stacking together. Recognizing how rogue waves form can help engineers and designers build safer ships and offshore platforms – and better predict risks. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Francesco Fedele, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: What makes the world's biggest surfable waves? Surfing makes its Olympic debut – and the waves should be world-class thanks to wind, sand and a typhoon or two What causes a tsunami? An ocean scientist explains the physics of these destructive waves Francesco Fedele does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
West Australian
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Singapore Oceanarium tickets on sale ahead of July 24 public opening
Flip your fins over to the booking portal for the new Singapore Oceanarium to snap up the first wave of tickets, ahead of the grand opening on July 24. The hotly anticipated mega aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa has offered marine enthusiasts the chance to be among the first to float through its 22 immersive zones by pre-purchasing their passes. Admission starts at SGD49 ($59) for adults, SGD35 ($42) for children 4-12 and SGD39 ($47) for seniors over 60 and the centre will be open daily from 10am-7pm. Singapore Oceanarium has taken over the former site of S.E.A. Aquarium and is three times larger than its predecessor, with a strong focus on advancing marine education, research and impactful conservation. The underwater journey includes a trip back in time to encounter ancient ocean giants through animatronics, digital displays and live prehistoric habitats, an adventure through Singapore's native mangroves and an otherworldly display of illuminated jellyfish. A 36m-wide viewing panel ensures plenty of space to witness majestic reef manta rays and zebra sharks up close in the Open Ocean exhibit. Singapore Oceanarium vice-president Lam Xue Ying says the opening signifies the site's evolution into a purpose-driven institute years in the making. 'We are dedicated to inspiring a new generation of ocean stewards by taking ocean education and interactive storytelling to the next level, through naturalistic habitats and immersive technology,' Ying says. 'Supported by academic partnerships, international accreditations and memberships, as well as our new research and learning centre, we're furthering our commitment to marine conservation, research and education.' + Bookings for Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa are via .
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Straits Times
Singapore Oceanarium to open in Sentosa on July 23
The Singapore Oceanarium will be three times larger than its predecessor, and will feature 22 immersive zones. PHOTO: RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA Singapore Oceanarium to open in Sentosa on July 23 SINGAPORE – The new Singapore Oceanarium – previously known as S.E.A. Aquarium – is set to welcome visitors in Sentosa from July 23, after about three months of renovation works. The facility will be three times larger than its predecessor and will feature 22 immersive zones, Resorts World Sentosa announced on May 26. Visitors will get to see various spaces of the ocean – from shallow water s to deep sea – and explore the ocean in different time periods, from prehistoric time to the present day. One of the exhibits is Ocean Wonders, home to one of the world's largest kreisel habitats a nd thousands of moon jellies. A kreisel tank is a specialised tank used to house delicate marine creatures such as jellyfish. The Ocean Wonders exhibit feature thousands of moon jellies. PHOTO: RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA Another exhibit, Singapore's Coast, features mangrove-inspired landscapes and interactive habitants that highlight native biodiversity. In the oceanarium's Open Ocean zone, visitors can get up close and personal with reef manta rays and zebra sharks, which swim among thousands of other marine animals behind a 36m-wide viewing panel. Adjacent to the oceanarium will be a research and learning centre, equipped with immersive learning labs, collaborative workspaces, seminar rooms and a rooftop event space. The centre 'enhances Singapore Oceanarium's educational offerings and provides advanced facilities for scientists and researchers to conduct valuable research work and drive marine science outreach on-site', Resorts World Sentosa said. 'Singapore Oceanarium represents the next frontier for marine education and sustainability,' said Mr Tan Hee Teck, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa. 'We have created not just a destination, but a catalyst for change, a place where curiosity transforms into knowledge, and knowledge into real action.' S.E.A. Aquarium closed for renovation on April 30, after 12 years of operations. Singapore Oceanarium's vice-president Lam Xue Ying added that the transformation of the facility has been 'years in the making'. 'We are dedicated to inspiring a new generation of ocean stewards by taking ocean education and interactive storytelling to the next level, through naturalistic habitats and immersive technology,' said Ms Lam. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Associated Press
12-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Johnny Morris' Sea Turtle Center at Wonders of Wildlife Welcomes Fifth Group of Critically Ill Sea Turtles for Rehabilitation
Drastic Spike in Sea Turtle Strandings Along the U.S. Northeast Coast Highlights Urgent Need for Marine Conservation SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium (WOW), a world-class nonprofit conservation organization, has welcomed its fifth group of critically ill sea turtles to its cutting-edge Sea Turtle Center. As the only dedicated sea turtle rescue facility in the Midwest, WOW has successfully rehabilitated more than 40 sea turtles — including loggerheads, green sea turtles, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles — since its founding in 2020, making a lasting impact on marine conservation in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks. The latest group of 20 loggerhead and Kemp's ridley sea turtles arrived in Springfield, Missouri, at the end of December, following a dramatic increase in sea turtle strandings along the northeastern U.S. coast due to rapidly dropping ocean temperatures. The turtles were transported from The New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, via a rescue flight coordinated by the nonprofit organization Turtles Fly Too. Upon arrival, WOW's expert animal care team immediately began providing advanced medical care, giving these turtles a second chance at survival and, ultimately, a return to the wild. The 20 sea turtles are receiving life-saving treatment, including hydration therapy, wound management, nutritional support, and specialized veterinary care. Once stabilized, they will be released back into their natural habitats in coordination with federal and state wildlife agencies such as the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 'Our team is passionate about giving these turtles the best chance for survival,' said Mike Daniel, Director of Animal Care at Wonders of Wildlife. 'Every rescue is a step toward protecting the future of these endangered species, and we're honored to be a key part of that effort.' Increased Cold-Stunning in the Northeast The rescued sea turtles suffer from 'cold-stunning,' a life-threatening condition caused by sudden drops in ocean temperatures. As ectothermic animals, sea turtles rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. When temperatures fall too quickly, turtles can become immobile and experience severe conditions such as hypothermia, pneumonia, and dehydration. NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reported over 400 cold-stunned sea turtles along the U.S. East Coast this season alone, each requiring urgent medical care. Due to the complexity of their life cycle, only 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood, making every successful rehabilitation and release critical to the survival of these endangered species. Although the newly rescued turtles are not accessible to the public due to their fragile condition, guests can still connect with WOW's resident green sea turtles, Izzy and Ms. Pam, in the Open Ocean exhibit, learning firsthand about these endangered species and how to help protect them. Expanding Conservation through Satellite Tracking In spring 2024, WOW introduced advanced satellite tracking technology to monitor rehabilitated sea turtles after their release – a new project made possible by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's generous Outdoor Fund grant. This advanced technology allows researchers to collect valuable data on turtle migration patterns, habitats, and overall life cycle. Guests can follow the journeys of five sea turtles released earlier this year through an interactive tracking feature on WOW's website. Building on this success, WOW plans to expand its satellite tagging program with this latest group of rescued turtles. Eligible turtles will be fitted with specialized satellite tracking devices before their release, allowing conservation scientists to monitor their progress in near real-time. 'Our commitment to sea turtle conservation extends far beyond the coasts,' Daniel added. 'By integrating advanced tracking technology into our program, we're not only giving these turtles a second chance at life but also contributing to critical global research efforts that can help protect future generations.' Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservationists In addition to its sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts, WOW plans to partner with local schools to inspire the next generation of ocean conservation advocates. Through educational programs, interactive exhibits, and behind-the-scenes tours, students will learn about marine conservation and the importance of protecting endangered species like sea turtles. For more information about Wonders of Wildlife's Sea Turtle Center, sea turtle tracking, and upcoming programs, visit About Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon Aquarium Adventure showcasing 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, and immersive Wildlife Galleries that bring visitors eye-to-eye with the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled. Created by noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, the 350,000-square-foot experience celebrates those who hunt, fish, and act as stewards of the land and water. Located next to Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, the campus is a centerpiece of America's Conservation Capital in Missouri's Ozark Mountains. Wonders of Wildlife has been voted 'Best New Attraction in America' and 'America's Best Aquarium' an unprecedented six times by the readers of USA TODAY, and in 2022 received its AZA accreditation. For more information, visit
