Experts suggest that a recent series of extreme waves wreaking havoc on a U.S. military base in the Marshall Islands might foreshadow more perilous coastal occurrences in the future.
The waves caused widespread flooding, affecting one-third of Roi-Namor, situated in the Kwajalein Atoll in the northern Marshall Islands, as reported by the U.S. Army. This area houses the U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll base, serving as a space and missile defense test range for the U.S. Department of Defense, equipped with advanced tracking technology.
Significant damage was inflicted on various locations, including the northwest side of the island, with standing water found in essential facilities like the dining facility, chapel, and theater, according to the U.S. Army’s initial aerial damage assessment.
Joe Sienkiewicz, chief of the ocean applications branch for NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center, emphasized that this extreme wave surpassed the typical size observed on the island’s shores. He explained that in such instances, the height of a specific wave could be twice that of others in the background.
Evidence suggests that multiple waves were responsible for the island’s damage, as depicted in cellphone footage from a restaurant on the Army base. The footage captures a forceful wave breaching the restaurant door, followed by another rushing in, causing chaos among patrons seeking refuge on dining tables.
Sea level, along with other factors such as coastal topography, weather conditions, tide cycles, and changes in bathymetry, may contribute to the severity of these waves and potentially increase their frequency, warned Sienkiewicz.
The Marshall Islands, situated at the forefront of climate change, face rising sea levels that contribute to powerful waves and increased coastal flooding. In response to the incident, 80 people were evacuated from Roi-Namor, leaving 60 to assess the damage and restore basic services. U.S. Army Col. Drew Morgan emphasized the arduous recovery process, describing it as a “marathon” in an ABC News statement.
Sienkiewicz issued a caution to beachgoers, advising vigilance if they observe a significant variation in wave sizes.
