The base at Roi Namur in the Kwajaleini atoll is home to a powerful radar station. When I worked there 40 years ago, the radar was strong enough that warnings like this were not uncommon. Only men worked on the island, and no children were on the island. The main base on Kwajalein had a mostly civilian, government contractor employee population including families. There were some permanent residents on Roi Namur, but many technicians commuted daily (by small aircraft) to go to work. This info is 40 years old, and I have no clue what is happening there now, but I imagine the radar has gotten stronger, not weaker as time and technology has moved on. When I worked there people needed top secret clearances to be employed (not as high as Q of course).
The wave is interesting since the prevailing ocean current would be from the south and east. The atoll sits at about 5 degrees north latitude. The island is only a few feet above see level, so a storm passing to the north could cause the rogue wave—not anything impossible—just rare (thus rogue).
Interesting fact, microwave ovens were designed after a radar accident in the earlier days of radar that caused Percy Spencers chocolate bar to melt in his pocket. He subsequently patented it and called it 'Radar Range'.
That was the good result-there were accidental injuries to sailors that got caught in the beam of ships radar dishes.
The base at Roi Namur in the Kwajaleini atoll is home to a powerful radar station. When I worked there 40 years ago, the radar was strong enough that warnings like this were not uncommon. Only men worked on the island, and no children were on the island. The main base on Kwajalein had a mostly civilian, government contractor employee population including families. There were some permanent residents on Roi Namur, but many technicians commuted daily (by small aircraft) to go to work. This info is 40 years old, and I have no clue what is happening there now, but I imagine the radar has gotten stronger, not weaker as time and technology has moved on. When I worked there people needed top secret clearances to be employed (not as high as Q of course).
The wave is interesting since the prevailing ocean current would be from the south and east. The atoll sits at about 5 degrees north latitude. The island is only a few feet above see level, so a storm passing to the north could cause the rogue wave—not anything impossible—just rare (thus rogue).
Interesting fact, microwave ovens were designed after a radar accident in the earlier days of radar that caused Percy Spencers chocolate bar to melt in his pocket. He subsequently patented it and called it 'Radar Range'.
That was the good result-there were accidental injuries to sailors that got caught in the beam of ships radar dishes.
I wouldn't want to be a big bird living on that island with a bunch of bored 18 yr olds with access to high powered radar.....if you know what I mean.
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