![]() On top of that, they can sometimes trigger tall, powerful waves that can easily destroy ships and boats. They pose a deadly threat to any person caught within their grid. These monsters are even stronger than riptides, dangerously strong sea currents that surge away from the shore. Photo: YouTube/John Bernīelow their undulating, checkerboard-like surface lie fierce undercurrents. So, why are square waves dangerous? Though the waves look fascinating, they can be life-threatening if you get caught in them. They can essentially happen anywhere in the ocean where two distinct weather patterns collide, but, again, they are a pretty rare sight. Photo: YouTube/John BernĬross seas have also been spotted off the beaches of Tel Aviv and New Zealand. The island boasts beautiful lighthouses that serve as great observation spots for these waves. These square waves are sometimes seen off the Isle of Rhé, a French island that’s a popular tourist destination. It’s best to view these types of waves from a high spot, such as a lighthouse, cliff, or from an aircraft. It may make it more difficult to see if there are multiple swells converging at once, if the angles of the waves are too shallow, or if strong local winds are present. This strange sea pattern doesn’t happen that often, though, and it’s hard to decipher from shore. But what do these square waves mean? Photo: YouTube/John BernĬross seas can be seen in coastal regions around the world, and they are more likely to occur in shallow waters. This forms what looks like a grid of square waves in the ocean. When the two systems meet, they crash into each other and create waves that exceed 45 degree angles. Though the weather systems often begin very far apart from one another, waves can travel thousands of miles. The contrasting wave systems stem from two opposing weather systems (like when a high pressure system with cool, dry air bumps into a low pressure system that’s cloudy and wet). It’s a gorgeous sight, but it’s incredibly dangerous if you’re in the water. A “cross sea” is an ocean phenomenon that occurs when two wave systems meet and cross each other at perpendicular angles.
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