19-metre wave has set a new world record

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has announced that a wave which was recorded by an automated buoy in the North Atlantic ocean between Iceland and the UK in February 2013 to be the “the highest significant wave height measured by a buoy”. This epic wave has overtaken the previous record-holder from December 2007, which also occurred in the North Atlantic. The scientists have attributed the phenomenon to a very strong cold front, which produced winds of up to 43.8 knots. Moreover, Monster waves are a common phenomenon in the North Atlantic due to wind circulation patterns and atmospheric pressure in the northern hemisphere winter. This phenomenon is capable of producing intense extra-tropical storms called as weather bombs.

Wave height is determined by the vertical distance from the crest of one wave to the trough of the next wave.