Monster 101ft waves snapped from space in astonishing NASA satellite images

dailystar.co.uk:

NASA has released astonishing satellite images that give a new perspective on a record-breaking 101ft-high wave surfed by Portuguese teenager António Laureano in October 2020.The images were captured by the Operational Land Imager instrument on Landsat 8.Thanks to a deep canyon below the ocean surface, Praia do Norte produces powerful, heavy, and sometimes dangerous waves that are believed to be the world’s largest.In April 2018, Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa broke the official world record for the largest wave ever surfed off the famous Portuguese beach, but his achievement was overshadowed by tragedy when British surfer Andrew Cotton broke his back in a sickening tumble that was branded Wipeout of the Year.But in October 2020, Portuguese teenager António Laureano surfed a monster wave that is estimated to have been over 101ft high.The exceptionally large and energetic swell in October 2020 is believed to have been driven by the remnants of Hurricane Epsilon, the fourth major hurricane of the extremely-active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.In the NASA images, breaking waves can be seen as a strong white band parallel to the shoreline.A green plume, believed to be made of ocean sediment stirred up by the powerful waves, extends around six miles from the shore.Earlier this month, another young surfing talent claimed to have broken the 100-foot barrier.

Mason Barnes told theinertia.com that he was sure he had broken the record, but that the numbers weren’t important to him: “I was just thankful to be there and ride that wave and to be a part of that day...“Just share those memories, you know, with everyone who was there.