A Giant, 19-Meter Atlantic Wave Sets A New World Record

A massive wave that occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and the United Kingdom in February 2013 is now the new world-breaking wave. It was a towering 19-meters high and about higher than a six-story building. The scientists estimated now its size.

The World Meteorological Organization stated that the giant wave was detected by a buoy. It also stated that the previous record was 18.275 meters in December 2007. The wave happened because of a severe cold front with 43.8 knots (50.4 mph) winds on Feb. 4, 2013, according to BBC News.

Wenjian Zhang, the WMO Assistant Secretary-General said that this is the first time they have ever measured a wave of 19 meters. He described it as remarkable. WMO classified the wave as "the highest significant wave height as measured by a buoy."

English way to prove it was really a HUUUUGE wave https://t.co/4k30bBXuOO #island #uk #giant #wave via @Telegraph pic.twitter.com/g426fcaNIB

— Windytv (@windytvcom) December 14, 2016

Science Alert reports that these gigantic waves are more common in the North Atlantic. This is because of the wind circulation patterns and atmospheric pressure in the Northern Hemisphere winter. It could generate intense extra-tropical storms described as "weather bombs." These bombs would likely go off in the upper reaches of the North Atlantic. It spreads from the east of the Canadian coast up to the waters south of Iceland and bordered by the west coast of the U.K.

The wave height is identified by the vertical distance from the crest of one wave to the trough of the next. The "significant wave height" is taken from the highest one third of waves gauged by an instrument in a 17.5-minute window.

Meanwhile, there is also a separate category for wave height based on measurements taken from a ship. It was a gigantic 29.05 meters wave is the record-holder for this category. It was detected in North Atlantic by the British oceanographic research vessel RRS Discovery in 2000.