Wednesday, January 18, 2017

How About those Sneaker Waves - Semi-Science

There's a horror story about a man and his young kid who were swept out to sea by a 'sneaker wave' and, I guess, were never seen again.  We don't see the need for a link since you get the horror and the question is what really happened.

There was a definitely a big wave which took them but there seems quite a bit more folklore than science behind whether 'sneaker waves' are a real phenomenon.  It seems they call them 'king waves' in Australia and various places in the world see them more than others.  (WIKI:  Sneaker wave)


Although the kids in my family grew up in Sydney, Australia, we never saw nor heard of 'sneaker waves' and we see from the WIKI it's the West coast where they may be observed.  It seems some type of phenomenon exists but people aren't really sure what does it.

In many parts of the world, local folklore predicts that out of a certain number of waves, one will be much larger than the rest — "every seventh wave" is one common belief that has wide circulation and has entered popular culture through music and literature.  These ideas have some scientific basis, due to the occurrence of wave groups at sea, along with a culture-inflected fascination with the number 7. This saying may also serve to educate shore dwellers about the necessity of remaining vigilant when near the sea.  There is no scientific evidence that these wave groups are related to sneaker waves.

- WIKI


My parents didn't take us to the beach too much in Australia and likely because keeping track of six kids at some of the best beaches in the world with some of the biggest waves would have been a highly-daunting challenge.  Nevertheless, you mustn't go to Australia without going to Bondi.

I've been to all the coasts of the U.S. and visited as many beaches as I could manage.  I grew up with that so sure I wanted more of it.  The Pacific Northwest seems to be where 'sneaker waves' may occur and I did not get that far North, mostly because the Pacific water is so damn cold on the West coast due to the Humboldt Current coming down from the the Arctic.

My own experience doesn't add much so this one seems to wind up in the, well, it's a mystery category.


There's some increased interest in this due to recent conversation on Ithaka regarding putting young people into the water for the first time.  Since I have no kids, there are few things which I find more terrifying but, as with my parents, somehow they manage.   I didn't see mention of 'sneaker waves' for the Caribbean or the American East coast so the most likely places for swimming for the audience here don't seem to have much risk of them, assuming this seventh wave phenomenon really exists in that way.

I'm really not sure if this is a 'so what' kind of thing but it's definitely unusual.


Here's Bondi:


Glory


If you will be a lifesaver in Australia, you need to bring your best game.  They don't call them lifeguards in Australia and the picture shows why.


How are your chops for boat driving in surf.  Welcome to Bondi.  We're watching out for you, mate.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is Bondi of your youth and memories.
It is now very commercialized. That road is now covered with stores and there are houses and apartments line the rocky shore line. They have not privatized the shore (yet). There are several buildings on the beach, one a civic center which may be the only cool building as it serves as the home to drum circles. It is not as bad as say Virginia Beach.
They did remove the venue that was used for the beach volleyball at the Olympics.
The beach itself is still beautiful as well as the scantily clad bodies (yes it is a topless beach)
Ask Raven about his visit at 12 years old I didnt understand why he kept stumbling as he stared downward. Then I realized why

Unknown said...

That last bit must have been hilarious. Raven, you're in Heaven, man! (larfs)

Anonymous said...

Best was?the look on his Mother and Grandmothers face when they realized what he was gawking at