Huge waves may be common         

[AUG. 12, 2005]  HOPEWELL JUNCTION, N.Y. -- A study released by the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi states that last year's Hurricane Ivan generated a wave in the Gulf of Mexico that towered higher than 90 feet. The study also suggests that such giant walls of water may be more common than once thought.

The 90-foot wave was detected 75 miles south of Gulfport, Miss., by instruments on the ocean floor that measure the pressure of water above them. Using those readings, scientists can calculate the height of waves from trough to crest.

Hurricane Ivan's giant wave did not reach land. Unlike a tsunami, which reaches down to the sea floor, this was a wind wave, generated on the ocean surface by the power of the storm.

Researchers postulate that waves 50 feet or higher may occur far more frequently than had been thought. Due to the fact that ships try to avoid stormy weather, most of these rogue waves go undetected, let alone measured.

[Compu-Weather]