1) the Movie Is Based in the Fishing Town of Gloucester

THE PERFECT STORM

ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER, answer the following questions based on the movie IN YOUR OWN WORDS (do not copy word for word from the web sites).

1) The movie is based in the fishing town of Gloucester.

a) Where is Gloucester? Describe where the town is located.

b) The boat heads out to sea to fish on the Grand Banks and when they do not catch enough fish, they head to the Flemish Cap. Describe where these two areas are located and what about the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap make them such productive fishing spots? Explain your answer. See the following figure for help.

Background information on Longitude and Latitude:

Geographic coordinates are expressed in angular measurement. Each circle is divided into 360 degrees, each degree into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. The degree is symbolized by ° , the minute by ‘ and the second by". Starting with 0° at the equator, the parallels of latitude are numbered to 90° both north and south. The extremities are the north pole at 90° north latitude and the south pole at 90° south latitude. Latitude can have the same numerical value north or south of the equator, so the direction N or S must always be given. Starting with 0° at the prime meridian, longitude is measured both east and west around the world. Lines east of the prime meridian are numbered to 180° and identified as east longitude; lines west of the prime meridian are numbered to 180° and identified as west longitude. The direction E or W must always be given. The line directly opposite the prime meridian, 180°, may be referred to as either east or west longitude.

2) a) On the attached map, plot and label the following points:

i. Edge of the Grand Banks (46oN, 48oW)

ii. The Flemish Cap (47oN, 46°30'W)

iii. Bermuda (33°22'N, 64°41 'W)

b) The Andrea Gail left from Gloucester on the coast of Massachusetts, headed to the Grand Banks and then to the Flemish Cap before turning for home. During the movie the following coordinates of the boat were given: 44oN, 56°4'W and then 46 oN, 48°W. Draw the path that this boat took on your map and label it "Andrea Gail".

c) The Mistral sailboat left from Portsmouth on the coast of New Hampshire and was heading toward Bermuda, although they never made it there. During the movie they gave the following coordinates to the Coast Guard: 39°49'N, 69°59'W. Plot their course on the map and label it "Mistral" .

3) During the movie, when the crew is out at sea (before they hit the main storm), Mark Wahlberg's character Bobby yells "Rogue Wave" as a huge wave crashes onto the ship. What is a rogue wave and what causes them to form? The following web site may be helpful in understanding Rogue Waves:

http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/mag/47/roguewaves.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageseas/neptune-side-waves.html

4) Describe long line fishing, the fishing method that is used to catch the swordfish.

5) What made the storm in the movie "The Perfect Storm"? Describe the weather

systems that led to it. Why was it so unusually strong?

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wdisguis.htm

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/viewrecord?5989

6) Sebastian Junger, the author of the book on which the movie is based, he said that commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs. Would you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Satellite Image of the “Perfect Storm”: Oct 30, 1991