4 April 2012

ANU plays with lego pirates to demonstrate rogue waves

| johnboy
Join the conversation
9

They that go down to the sea in ships have never doubted the existence of rogue waves.

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Fortunately the ANU is letting us know they’ve figured out how it happens with the help of a fish tank and a lego pirate.

Using a scientific fish tank, a wave generator and a Lego man on a ship floating on the water surface, the scientists were able to demonstrate that rogue waves much bigger than previously thought can occur. The team have labelled these ‘super rogue waves’, as they can be up to five times bigger than the other waves around them. A video of the experiment can be seen here [Above]

“This observation could have far-reaching consequences for our efforts to understand these waves that are, by far, still mysterious,” said Dr Akmediev.

“The large amplification of the rogue wave peak above the normal waves around it suggests the existence of a new class of waves – the so-called ‘super rogue waves’. Our results show that, even in a sea characterised by small waves, rogue waves can naturally develop due to the nonlinear dynamics of the surface elevation.

“This is an extraordinary fact that could explain some mysterious observations of rogue waves in calm sea states.”

Rogue waves have only recently been accepted as science fact, rather than fishermans’ tales of the deep sea. Despite decades of debate among scientists, a prototype of how a rogue wave could develop – called the Peregrine soliton – was only very recently observed experimentally in fibre optics.

screenshot

Join the conversation

9
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
AsparagusSyndrome10:27 pm 04 Apr 12

PantsMan said :

BuzzwordBingo said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

+1

Real scientists don’t discount evidence

Well, you might be a climate scientist?

Yep, I think evidence of the existence of rogue trolls is mounting. I might build me a Lego model, and demonstrate how they like to make waves. But it’s going to be hard to convince my establishment colleagues who never ever let hard evidence sway their irrational and uninformed beliefs. Why, only the other day, I overheard a professor remarking “Successful Troll is successful!”, before emitting a cloud of climate enhancing methane. There’s no way an old fart like that will ever come to accept the existence of rogue trolls. *sigh* It’s just me against the establishment again.

BuzzwordBingo said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

+1

Real scientists don’t discount evidence

Well, you might be a climate scientist?

poetix said :

Also, to revert to type, I think, when they say fishermans’, they meant fishermen’s. Fishermans’ isn’t even remotely correct.[\quote]
I thought it was fisherpeople now to be more politically correct

Forget the Peregrine Soliton, I’m worried that any Lego parrot that the Lego pirate may have had on his shoulder drowned in the accident. And did the pirate have one leg made of wooden Lego? I can’t see the crucial details of the experiment well enough.

Also, to revert to type, I think, when they say fishermans’, they meant fishermen’s. Fishermans’ isn’t even remotely correct.

The punctuation has been giving me a very good time today.

BuzzwordBingo said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

+1

Real scientists don’t discount evidence

+ alot

BuzzwordBingo1:00 pm 04 Apr 12

dtc said :

They don’t discount it, they just manipulate the theory so the evidence can be ignored.

Is that my troll alert I hear dinging in the background?

BuzzwordBingo said :

Thoroughly Smashed said :

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

+1

Real scientists don’t discount evidence

They don’t discount it, they just manipulate the theory so the evidence can be ignored.

BuzzwordBingo12:22 pm 04 Apr 12

Thoroughly Smashed said :

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

+1 Real scientists don’t discount evidence

Thoroughly Smashed12:09 pm 04 Apr 12

johnboy said :

But scientists are often resistant to observations which don’t conform to their existing models.

Wow, talk about uncharitable.

By definition, if you ignore evidence that contradicts a theory, you are not a scientist.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.