Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 8-12 Subject: Science

New Wave

In the last days of October 1991, a storm officially known as "the Halloween nor'easter of 1991" blasted over the ocean at more than 100 mph creating devastating 100-foot waves. The storm battered the coast of New England, destroying 200 homes and killing nine people, including the six-man crew of the Andrea Gail, a swordfish boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The story of the storm is told in the best-selling book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, and in a new movie with the same title directed by Wolfgang Peterson.

This week's online lesson is about the wind, the waves, and the storm.

The Perfect Storm

The best place on the Web to learn about storms is the Storm Network, a global weather forecasting firm. Currently the site is featuring a special section about The Perfect Storm with information about the storm, eyewitness accounts of the damage, and images from the making of the film. Before checking out these other resources, focus on the section History of the Storm, which describes how it formed, the damage it caused, and its bizarre ending.

You can also find information about the storm, and (a lot of information about the film) at the official film web site of The Perfect Storm. Click The Storm to see actual satellite images and read a description of the storm by meteorologist Dave Epstein. How high are 100-foot waves? Watch the Shockwave simulation of a 100' Wave to get an idea.

Wave Science

How do ocean waves form? What determines the size of waves? What are tides and how are they related to waves? To learn about the science of ocean waves and tides, visit Ocean Quest, an educational site sponsored by the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. When Ocean Quest opens, click Waves and Tides. Now explore each of the links, all of which pertain to waves:

After reading Waves, what the three factors determine how high a wave can grow?

After reading The Anatomy of a Wave, how is wave height measured?

After reading The Birth of a Wave, what are capillary waves?

After reading The Growth of a Wave, what is a fully developed sea?

After reading Dynamics of a Wave, name two examples of a disturbing force.

After reading Sea or Swell?, what is the definition of a swell?

For another view of wave science—a surfer's view—visit Storm Surf's Wave Basics page. After all, knowing about waves is the first step if you want to be a surfer. Why are swells better for riding than wind waves? What are ground swells? What happens when swells meet?

The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

On November 10, 1975 the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior when it encountered an unexpected storm with high seas. All 29 crew members died. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot (1976, Moose Music, Ltd.) is a tribute to this ship and the men who lost their lives.

Visit the Sinking of the Fitzgerald site hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Interspersed with the song lyrics are explanations of the meteorological and historical events surrounding the tragedy. As you read the story, note that on the afternoon of November 10 the winds shifted to the North-West. Based on what you know of fetch and wave formation, why was this critical? What evidence suggests that the ship went down quickly and unexpectedly?

Learn more about the Edmund Fitzgerald at the restoration site hosted by Michigan State University.

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