ROLLERS IN CALM SEA.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 11

ROLLERS IN CALM SEA.

EXPLAINED BY SCIENTIST. United States Navy hydrographers who have studied reports of the sudden arising of huge waves out of apparently calm seas off the North Atlantic Coast in recent days have advanced three possible explanations, although the data at hand was too scant to permit definite conclusions. The liner France was slapped by a big wave off Ambrose Light at the entrance to New York Harbour ,on August 23, and a somewhat similar experience was met by the steamer Saugus off the Delaware Breakwater the next day.

G. W. Littlehales, navy hydrographic engineer, said the most likely explanation was that the wave phases of distant storms in the Atlantic coincided, generating much larger waves which “slapped” these ships. It is plausible also, he said, that this sudden coincidence was as abruptly _ terminated, restoring the sea to relative calm. “Such an occurrence might also have been caused when a fast incoming tide-stream formed what is known as a “tide sear” near inlets,” he continued. “This means that the friction of land underneath would hinder the tide at lower levels, causing a steep reverse incline. ' . „ , “Contact of waters of different physical qualities, such as density and temperature, has also been known to cause such an abrupt disturbance, I hesitate, however, to give any definite reason for the occurrences, other than to say that some natural explanation exists and that the big wave was not a spiritual manifestation. ’