Photo: PANMAULE/Depositphotos
The ocean is immense and powerful.
Lifeguards, sailors, and marine scientists spend years training and studying to predict its changing tides.
Long thought to be a myth, these massive waves can be exceptionally dangerous.
Photo: PANMAULE/Depositphotos
A rogue waveknown as a freak or killer waveoccurs in open ocean.
While it may betoo early to tellif the California waves are scientifically rogue.
According toNational Geographic, Scientists do not completely understand how rogue waves form.
Fast ocean currents and violent storms that whip up winds can also make these waves more likely.
Therefore, global warming is likely to make them more common as seas warm and weather becomes more unpredictable.
The first documented rogue wave was observed in 1995 off the coast of Norway.
Known as the Draupner wave, it rose 25.6 meters (74 feet) above the water.
This was slightly over twice the height of the nearby waves.
This made it more rogue than any previously recorded.
So, why track these waves?
