Slab Wave Potential

A slab is a piece of reef that sticks out in deep water or deep water sits behind it. Most slabs break in the same spot.  In the figure below, the HUG slab wave, 1, moves fast and hits a shallow reef, 4, at full speed. It lifts out of nowhere within seconds. HUG Slab waves are heavy reef breaks coming out of deep water and breaking in very shallow water. As a thick lip unloads on a shelf, the water doesn’t have anywhere to go but upwards overtopping into a reservoir with all their open-ocean energy intact. That energy gets focused as the depth suddenly decreases.

Acceleration = a = g (acceleration of gravity) = 9.8 m³/sec                                                                      (Final Velocity)² = 2 x a x s

In the summer, the head of water is 1.5 m from water forcing through the automatic gates of the artificial reef:

Final Velocity = 5.42 m/sec for 1.5 m drop (s):

 In the winter, the head of water is 5 m from water washing over the walls of the artificial reef:

Final Velocity = 9.9 m/sec for 5 m drop (s) of the crest to sea level.

       Wave heights during storms may exceed 10 meters (33 feet)

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