Over the years the weather in the Rockall Trough has gained a fearsome reputation amongst the oceanographic community. Many of the planned expeditions to the region have been interrupted by big storms with high winds and high seas. To the scientists the bad weather results in a very interesting phenomenum; stirring of the ocean by the wind to depths rarely seen across the globe. It is this stirring action that releases heat from the ocean depths to the atmosphere above, keeping the UK climate relatively mild. David Ellett was among the first to recognise the importance to the UK of our local oceanic "radiator".
In February 2000, scientists from SOC and SAMS on RRS Discovery encountered giant waves nearly 30m high in the Rockall Trough (top right). Life on board became very difficult as the ship rolled as much as 30 degrees in the stormy seas (right shows a roll of nearly 20 degrees). A recent study concluded that the monster waves were probably caused by resonant conditions, whereby a weather front moved at the same speed as the wave group for a long enough period for a fully developed sea to evolve (Holliday et al 2006, see References). The significant wave height of 18.5 m (representing the height of the waves over 30 minutes) was the largest ever measured in the ocean, and the individual wave height of 29.1m was similar to those that have been observed under hurricanes. Waves of over 5 m are common and frequently prevent work over the side of the ship.
You can compare the current weather in the Rockall area with the weather where you live by visiting the UK Met Office shipping forecast site.
Over the years the weather in the Rockall Trough has gained a fearsome reputation amongst the oceanographic community. Many of the planned expeditions to the region have been interrupted by big storms with high winds and high seas. To the scientists the bad weather results in a very interesting phenomenum; stirring of the ocean by the wind to depths rarely seen across the globe. It is this stirring action that releases heat from the ocean depths to the atmosphere above, keeping the UK climate relatively mild. David Ellett was among the first to recognise the importance to the UK of our local oceanic "radiator".
In February 2000, scientists from SOC and SAMS on RRS Discovery encountered giant waves nearly 30m high in the Rockall Trough (top right). Life on board became very difficult as the ship rolled as much as 30 degrees in the stormy seas (right shows a roll of nearly 20 degrees). A recent study concluded that the monster waves were probably caused by resonant conditions, whereby a weather front moved at the same speed as the wave group for a long enough period for a fully developed sea to evolve (Holliday et al 2006, see 
