Marine Glossary

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extreme storm wave

Also called freak or rogue waves. These are a class of rare ocean waves that are much higher and steeper than the typical high waves of a standard wave distribution. They have much longer widths, are usually deeper rather than taller, and are most likely caused either by wave interference from two wave patterns (G170) or by a downburst along a severe squall line that happen to hit the trough of a larger than average wave moving at about the same speed as the squall line — or by some combination of both of these.

Rogue waves are discussed in ART-21.

Abbreviated ESW. These waves are not to be confused with the occasional much larger than average wave that is a natural part of any wave distribution.

See also significant wave height and G112 for an illustration of wave terminology.

See G150 for a wave trace of an ESW.