A strange natural phenomenon could unravel the mystery of Loch Ness Monster sightings, according to an expert researcher.
Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes elusive ‘standing waves’ might explain sightings of the mythical monster.
He said: ‘A standing wave occurs when two boat wakes of the exact same frequency and amplitude are moving in opposite directions on the loch surface.
‘When the two boat wakes finally meet and interfere with one another the results have the potential to create a standing wave.’
The peaks of these standing waves, rising above the otherwise calm waters, could be mistaken for ‘humps’ above the surface.
Footage captured by Mr McKenna shows the phenomenon occurring where a river meets the loch on its southern shore, at Fort Augustus.
But capturing a standing wave caused by boat wakes out on the open water is a greater challenge.
Alan said: ‘The waves and the boat wake need to be identical.
A strange natural phenomenon could unravel the mystery of Loch Ness Monster sightings, according to an expert researcher
Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes elusive ‘standing waves’ might explain sightings of the mythical monster
‘So with all that in mind, there’s now a lot 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 most definitely produce a wake different from 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 happening out over the deep heart of the loch.
He said: ‘Ali Matheson, skipper of Deepscan, frequently reports standing waves, but more so in the small marina within Urquhart Bay also known as Temple Pier.
‘That’s all fine and well, but it’s more difficult 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 footage showing a natural standing wave in motion.’
He continued: ‘Since launching LNE, it’s always been my hope to capture as much natural phenomena as possible.
Peaks of standing waves, rising above the otherwise calm waters, could be mistaken for ‘humps’ above the surface
Mr McKenna now hopes to record the phenomenon happening out over the deep heart of the loch
‘It’s a process of elimination, in my mind, as most potential ‘Nessie’ reports can be explained.
‘Without being disrespectful, I tend to follow the reports made by the locals and the reason being is that they see Loch Ness everyday.
‘I dare say that they are more knowledgeable than tourists.
‘If you are unfamiliar with Loch Ness and its natural behaviour then I do believe that many people will be fooled by the water and certain illusions – it’s easily done!’
When it comes to the existence of the fabled beast, however, Alan is keeping an open mind.
The 37-year-old said: ‘If there are any unknown animals in Loch Ness then they certainly don’t play by the rules.
‘It’s the perfect habitat for a shy animal with 23 miles of cold dark water and around 750ft deep.
‘You could be swimming next to a 200ft submarine below the surface and not even notice it right in front of you, it’s that dark!’
He continued: ‘When I was a youngster and throughout my childhood, I fully believed the Plesiosaur theory.
‘But the more you explore the story of Loch Ness the more unlikely that theory becomes – sorry folks.
‘We’ve had many potential candidates over the years for ‘Nessie’ such as giant eels, long-necked seals, Greenland shark, large sturgeon, catfish and many others.
‘But truth be told, none of us have the correct answer and that’s what keeps this mystery going.’
LNE is an independent voluntary research group focused on Loch Ness, its natural environment, and its ecology, as well as the mythical monster.
Mr McKenna said: ‘We invite everyone to join this group who has a genuine interest in the loch. It’s not just about ‘Nessie’ as Loch Ness is far more than that.
‘We have a great mixture of individuals in the LNE group and I believe it to be diverse.’
What IS the Loch Ness Monster?
Rumours of a strange creature living in the waters of Loch Ness have abounded over the decades, yet scant evidence has been found to back up these claims.
One of the first sightings, believed to have fuelled modern Nessie fever, came in May 2, 1933.
On this date the Inverness Courier carried a story about a local couple who claim to have seen ‘an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface’.
Another famous claimed sighting is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson.
It was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged.
Other sightings James Gray’s picture from 2001 when he and friend Peter Levings were out fishing on the Loch, while namesake Hugh Gray’s blurred photo of what appears to be a large sea creature was published in the Daily Express in 1933.
Robert Kenneth Wilson, a London physician, captured arguably the most famous image of the Loch Ness Monster. The surgeon’s photograph was published in the Daily Mail on April 21, 1934 – however it was later proven to be a fake
The first reported sighting of the monster is said to have been made in AD565 by the Irish missionary St Columba when he came across a giant beast in the River Ness.
But no one has ever come up with a satisfactory explanation for the sightings – although in 2019, ‘Nessie expert’ Steve Feltham, who has spent 24 years watching the Loch, said he thought it was actually a giant Wels Catfish, native to waters near the Baltic and Caspian seas in Europe.
An online register lists more than 1,000 total Nessie sightings, created by Mr Campbell, the man behind the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club and is available at www.lochnesssightings.com.
So what could explain these mysterious sightings?
Many Nessie witnesses have mentioned large, crocodile-like scutes sitting atop the spine of the creature, leading some to believe an escaped amphibian may be to blame.
Native fish sturgeons can also weigh several hundred pounds and have ridged backs, which make them look almost reptilian.
Some believe Nessie is a long-necked plesiosaur – like an elasmosaur – that survived somehow when all the other dinosaurs were wiped out.
Others say the sightings are down to Scottish pines dying and flopping into the loch, before quickly becoming water-logged and sinking.
While submerged, botanical chemicals start trapping tiny bubbles of air.
Eventually, enough of these are gathered to propel the log upward as deep pressures begin altering its shape, giving the appearance of an animal coming up for air.
