HOW PERFECT IS
HOLLYWOOD'S "THE PERFECT STORM"?
from the
American Institute of Physics
and the
American Physical Society
COLLEGE PARK, MD
(June 30, 2000) � How perfect is Hollywood's "The Perfect Storm"?
As a meteorological event - not
very.
In the movie "The Perfect Storm," which opens this
Friday, George Clooney,
and fellow cast members recreate the actual events surrounding the sinking of
the sword-fishing vessel Andrea Gail on October 28, 1991.
Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Sebastian
Junger, the movie's web site declares that the storm was "a unique event in recorded
history." It states that "three storms combined into one," heaping waves 100
feet high, creating nothing less than "an almost apocalyptic situation."
Yet real-life experts suggest the 1991 storm may be a victim of Hollywood
hype. While the storm was undeniably very powerful- and dangerous to any ship
venturing offshore- all the meteorologists interviewed agreed that the storm was
far from being "stronger than any in recorded history," as the web site
states.
"Bottom line: the 'perfect' storm was strong, but there were plenty of
stronger events on record," says meteorology professor Clifford Mass of the
University of Washington in Seattle.
Junger tells Inside Science News Service that while he did not write either
the movie screenplay or the web site storm descriptions, he believes the impact
on the New England coast was "the worst in living memory."
A freelance journalist and
author, Junger coined the phrase "the perfect storm" after a conversation with Bob Case, the 30-year veteran meteorologist who
was deputy meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service's Boston,
Mass., forecast office at the time of the storm.
Case says that while he does not recall specifically talking to Junger among
the thousands of calls he fielded over the years, he likely meant that three
weather ingredients had come together to create a "perfect situation."
However,
this is true for any major storm.
"The various meteorological events�had to occur simultaneously in the right
location," Case says. However, he adds that a "perfect" situation does not mean
it is unique or even exceptionally rare.
The "three storms," he
said, were in fact a large high-pressure system over
Canada, a low-pressure system traveling along a slow-moving cold front, and the
tropical moisture from Hurricane Grace, which was dissipating at the time.
Case describes the situation as
follows. The high-pressure system,
originating in northern Canada, provided a large pool of cold air. The edge of
this cold air-the cold front- pushed off the New England coast on Oct. 27. A
weak low-pressure system was moving along the front.
The cold air behind the front and warm air ahead of it caused a strong
temperature contrast to form over a relatively small area. Such a sharp
temperature change caused the low to rapidly intensify. The result was what
meteorologists call an "extra-tropical cyclone."
Off the East Coast, extra-tropical cyclones are called
"Nor'easters," since
the wind blows strongly from the northeast along the Eastern Seaboard.
A third ingredient, Case says, was the addition of lots of moisture from
Hurricane Grace, which had gotten caught up into the Nor'easter's large
circulation. By Oct. 31, the Nor'easter had stalled and even began moving
backward (toward the west). While this is somewhat unusual, it is by no means
unique and occurred three days after the Andrea Gail had sunk.
Ocean buoy monitors recorded wind gusts to 75 mph and wave heights of 39
feet, and while higher waves were surely possible, 100-foot waves seem unlikely.
However, Junger emphasized that this storm was primarily an ocean storm, causing
unusually large waves far offshore. "I looked for records of larger waves, but
couldn't find any," Junger says.
Junger stresses the importance of wave
height. "Since wave height is so
terribly significant for both a vessel at sea, as well as an exposed coastline,
it's possibly a better measure of intensity than, say, wind speed or damage
costs," he says.
Yet the storm was far from being the strongest
ever, says Mass, adding "that
honor goes to the 1962 Columbus Day Storm."
Close behind the 1962 Columbus Day Storm was the March 1993
"Superstorm,"
which affected an exceptionally large part of the United States, setting records
for snowfall, cold temperatures and low pressure up and down the East Coast.
In 1991, strong winds and rough seas occurred on top of a monthly high tide
brought about by the full moon, exacerbating the damage and flooding, Mass says.
While Case takes minor issue with
Junger's explanation of the storm, he
nevertheless praises Junger's overall effort. In researching the book, he said,
Junger tackles topics as diverse as meteorology, oceanography, shipbuilding, the
New England fishing culture, and Coast Guard search and rescue techniques. "I
take my hat off to him," Case says.
So while "The Perfect Storm" may turn out to be a perfect summer movie, as an
accurate portrayal of a real weather event, meteorologists say it isn't quite so
perfect.
###
Contacts:
Experts:
|
