Record-Breaking Rogue Wave Surges in the Pacific

In November 2020, an extraordinary phenomenon unfolded off the coast of British Columbia, where an anomalous wave elevated a solitary buoy to an astonishing height of 17.6 meters (58 feet). This four-story deluge was later acknowledged in February 2022 as the most extreme rogue wave documented thus far.

Such remarkable occurrences are estimated to manifest only once every 1,300 years. Had the buoy not been ensnared in this aquatic ascent, the event might have remained obscured from our understanding.

Historically, rogue waves were dismissed as mere maritime folklore, an illusion of seafaring tales, until verification came in 1995. On January 1st of that year, an almost 26-meter wave (85 feet) abruptly struck an oil drilling platform situated approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) offshore from Norway, subsequently labeled the Draupner wave. This landmark event contradicted all preceding scientific models.

Since then, countless rogue waves have been documented, some even occurring in freshwater bodies. Notably, although the Ucluelet wave was not the tallest, its magnitude relative to the surrounding waves was unparalleled. Scientists define a rogue wave as any wave exceeding double the height of adjacent waves; for instance, the Draupner wave soared to 25.6 meters amidst neighboring waves of merely 12 meters.

In stark contrast, the Ucluelet wave approached nearly three times the height of its companions. As physicist Johannes Gemmrich from the University of Victoria aptly articulated in 2022, “Proportionally, the Ucluelet wave is likely the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded.”

Presently, researchers are endeavoring to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the formation of rogue waves, aiming to enhance predictive capabilities. This endeavor includes real-time measurements and computational models exploring how surf conditions incited by wind might contribute to their emergence.

The buoy that captured the Ucluelet wave was deployed by MarineLabs in a strategic effort to scrutinize potential maritime hazards. Even when such waves form in distant waters, they can imperil marine operations, wind farms, and oil rigs while posing risks to the safety of beachgoers.

While neither the Ucluelet nor Draupner waves caused catastrophic damage, history attests to the peril rogue waves represent, with some vessels lost to their monstrous and unforeseen wrath. Worryingly, a 2020 study indicated that wave heights in the North Pacific might rise due to climate change, suggesting the possibility that the Ucluelet wave may not retain its record for long.

Ultimately, the quest for marine safety is underscored by ongoing advancements; as MarineLabs CEO Scott Beatty emphasized, the capture of such an extraordinary phenomenon heralds the transformative potential of coastal intelligence in enhancing marine safety.

The findings from this research were published in Scientific Reports, with an earlier version of this article appearing in February 2022.