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Abstract

Freak waves are known as a maritime myth, which have damaged large cargo and cruise ships. So far freak waves are explained by strong current focusing and nonlinear wave interaction. The latter may results in a single large wave. However this can still not explain the disappearance of the cargo ship Muenchen in December, 1978. This paper proposes a new hypothesis which stems from the wave/ swell energy flux accumulation due to the moving wind system. Nature might play the game by controlling the moving speed to approach the wave/swell group velocity.

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