SAMPLE: Oceanography

Film Science Questions for: The Perfect Storm

Background: Because most of our world is covered with ocean, most people are familiar with waves. But, how many of us have seen waves of the size and power so vividly depicted in this film?

1. Toward the end of the opening scenes, sea and weather conditions created what mood in Christina

     Cotter’s dream?

2. In October, why would Douglas Kosco feel safer in Florida waters than on the Grand Banks?

3. a) Why did Bob Brown not want Billy Tyne to look for fish farther out than the Grand Banks?

    b) What influenced Billy’s decision to head back out to sea for another fishing trip?

4. Compared to the earth’s radius, how deep is the deep blue sea Chris mentions in her letter to Bobby?

5. How did the Andrea Gail’s design reflect the environment in which it worked?

6. Do weather forecasters use guesswork?

7. The container ship Aeolis and the tanker Van Ruyn were battling winds of what speed and seas of what

    height?

8. a) Why did the WC-130 Hurricane Hunter fly through the storm?

    b) What wind speed data did it record?

9. Diagram the creation of a rogue wave.

10. Why was Linda Greenlaw worried about Billy as he headed out to the Flemish Cap?

11. What concerns did Quentin, the old man at the bar, have about the Flemish Cap?

12. Why did the Ray Leonard’s sailboat, the Mistral, “turtle”?

13. When the Andrea Gail’s crew decided to return to port, how big were the waves in the storm zone?

14. What three weather systems collided to create the huge system the weatherman called the “perfect

      storm”?

15. The sight of the storm stretching across the horizon created what mood among the Andrea Gail’s

      crew?

16. What would be the best part of the wave for the helicopter rescue crewman to jump into?

17. Think: Was the antenna’s breaking an accident?

18. Why was it so difficult for the helicopter pilot to place his aircraft where he wanted?

19. Why did Linda’s worries about Billy increase dramatically?

20. Was Billy worried to be “back in the 19^th century?”

21. What is ironic about the behavior of the metal “fish”?

22. What would be the best part of a wave from which to spot other swimmers?

23. a) During the rescue of the helicopter crew, what hazard did the Coast Guard cutter Tamaroa pose?

      b) How did the cutter manoeuver to pick the crew out of the water?

24. a) Why did Billy need full speed during the turnaround manoeuver?

      b) Why was running with the storm easier than into it?

25. Why did the Andrea Gail not recover from its final rollover?

26. For the most part, the sailors, fishermen and rescuers were experienced with the ocean’s moods. But,

      did they seem to understand how the science of wave dynamics affected the behavior of the ocean

      (and sealed their fate)?   

27. Think: Why are so many fishermen’s names on the Wall of Names in the Gloucester City Hall? Why

      are names still being occasionally added?

28. In what circumstances would you go out on the open ocean?