Rogue waves and entropy consumption

TL;DR

This paper analyzes rogue waves using a scale-dependent stochastic approach, linking wave fluctuations across scales, and shows that rogue waves correspond to negative entropy events consistent with non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a stochastic cascade model for wave statistics and applies entropy analysis to identify rogue waves as negative entropy events.

Findings

Rogue waves are associated with negative entropy fluctuations.

The stochastic model captures multipoint wave statistics.

Entropy fluctuation statistics vary with wave state, indicating higher rogue wave probability.

Abstract

Based on data from the Japan Sea and the North Sea the occurrence of rogue waves is analyzed by a scale dependent stochastic approach, which interlinks fluctuations of waves for different spacings. With this approach we are able to determine a stochastic cascade process, which provides information of the general multipoint statistics. Furthermore the evolution of single trajectories in scale, which characterize wave height fluctuations in the surroundings of a chosen location, can be determined. The explicit knowledge of the stochastic process enables to assign entropy values to all wave events. We show that for these entropies the integral fluctuation theorem, a basic law of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, is valid. This implies that positive and negative entropy events must occur. Extreme events like rogue waves are characterized as negative entropy events. The statistics of these entropy fluctuations changes with the wave state, thus for the Japan Sea the statistics of the entropies has a more pronounced tail for negative entropy values, indicating a higher probability of rogue waves.