For the first time, a group of Russian ocean scientists discovered abnormally high internal waves in the Russian sector of the Arctic.
The researchers carried out measurements in the Kara Gate Strait connecting the Barents and the Kara Seas. It was revealed that when sea currents interact with the uneven bottom of the strait, abnormally powerful internal waves of up to 40 meters high regularly occur, scientificrussia.ru writes.
The discovery of such powerful internal waves can be useful in solving a number of applied tasks related to the exploration and production of oil and gas in the Arctic, the laying of pipelines and underwater communications, and ensuring the safety of navigation along the Northern Sea Route.
Usually, powerful internal waves have a height of more than 10 meters, but there are cases when their height in the Arctic reached the size of a multi–storey building at 40-50 meters. Such high waves can affect the transmission of acoustic signals underwater, damage underwater structures, crack sea ice and lead to the formation of ice holes.
Researchers used satellite data, drones and special temperature sensors to register high internal waves.
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
