Existence and role of inverse cascade in wave tanks for rogue wave formation

Establish whether an inverse cascade of wave action occurs in controlled wave-tank experiments and quantify its role in the formation of rogue waves.

Background

Although inverse cascade is expected in oceanic surface gravity waves, the paper highlights that experiments in wave tanks have not reported a clear inverse cascade signal and suggest it may be limited, creating uncertainty about its presence and impact in laboratory settings.

Clarifying the existence and strength of inverse cascade in wave tanks is essential to reconcile experimental observations with theoretical expectations and to understand its influence on rogue wave generation.