Could this be the cause of the Loch Ness monster sightings? | UK News

A natural phenomenon could be behind countless sightings of the elusive “Loch Ness Monster” over the years, an expert has said.

Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes ‘standing waves’ could explain claims of sightings of the mythical monster.

He said: “A standing wave occurs when two boat wakes with exactly the same frequency and amplitude move in opposite directions across the surface of the loch. When the wakes of the two boats eventually meet and interfere with each other, the results can potentially create a standing wave.

The tops of these standing waves, rising above otherwise calm waters, could be mistaken for “bumps” above the surface.

Images captured by Mr McKenna show the phenomenon occurring where a river meets the loch on its south bank, at Fort Augustus.

But capturing a standing wave caused by a boat’s wake in open water poses an even greater challenge.

Alan said: “The waves and the wake of the boat have to be the same. With all of this in mind, there is now much more to consider here, such as the boat itself, its size, the direction of travel and its current speed.

“A small boat with a smaller engine will definitely produce a different wake than a much larger boat. It’s a complex procedure, especially in open water, but it can happen.

Mr McKenna now hopes to record the phenomenon occurring in the heart of the lake.

He said: “Ali Matheson, skipper of Deepscan, frequently reports standing waves, but more so at the small marina at Urquhart Bay, also known as Temple Pier. That’s all well and good, but it’s harder to capture a standing wave in open water.

“We know that standing waves exist and they have been reported, but what we don’t have is the images showing a natural standing wave in motion.”

Mr McKenna helped launch the LNE and follows reports from residents daily to find out what’s behind the sightings.

However, regarding the existence of the legendary beast, Alan keeps an open mind.

The 37-year-old said: “If there are unknown animals in Loch Ness then they are definitely not following the rules. It’s the perfect habitat for a shy animal with 23 miles of cold, dark water and approximately 750 feet of depth.

“You could swim next to a submarine 200 feet below the surface and not even notice it right in front of you, it’s so dark!”

Over the years, some have believed that giant eels, long-necked seals, harp sharks, large sturgeons and other animals could be confused with “Nessie.”

Mr Mckenna said: “The truth is, none of us have the right answer and that’s what keeps this mystery going.”

The LNE is an independent voluntary research group focused on Loch Ness, its natural environment and ecology, and the mythical monster.

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