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Name:________________________________________ Date:__________________________
Mapping Ocean Currents and Rogue Waves
“Seventy-footers are roaming around the sea state like surly giants and there’s not much (a boat
captain) can do but take them head-on and try to get over the top before they break.”
– Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm
Key concepts in this lab:
Wind and Ocean Currents
Rogue Waves
Cartographic Principles
Map Scale
Introduction: In this exercise, you will map major ocean currents and four locations where
rogue waves have been suspected of damaging marine vessels.
Ocean Currents: As wind moves over the ocean, frictional drag between the atmosphere and
water drives surface currents. The circulation over each ocean basin is largely governed by
semi-permanent subtropical high pressure systems. Winds diverging from these create
circulation systems in the oceans known as gyres. The Coriolis force causes gyres in the
Northern Hemisphere to move clockwise and gyres in the Southern Hemisphere to move
counterclockwise. In each hemisphere, warm currents carry surplus energy from the tropics
poleward and cold currents return water back toward the equator.
Rogue Waves: Rogue waves are very steep, large ocean waves having enough power to sink
large ships. Long considered something of folklore, or at least very rare, radar satellites have
revealed that rogues are far more common than previously thought. In fact, scientists estimate
that 10 of the giants may be churning through the world’s oceans at any given moment. Large
rogues seem to average around 100 feet; their theoretical maximum is 198 feet. No one is
exactly sure why rogue waves occur, although areas where wind and ocean currents often travel
in opposite directions appear to be ideal locations in which they form.
Cartographic Essentials (TALDOGS): Cartography is a blend of science and art.
Cartographers must make a number of important decisions in order to create maps that
communicate information effectively while maintaining visual appeal. There are numerous types
of maps designed to convey particular types of spatial information. Often times, the type of data
to be mapped determine which type of map is most appropriate to use. However, details such as
font, color, and patterns are often left up to the individual creating the map. Despite the variety
of maps available, all maps should contain the following items:
T – Title – Choose a title appropriate for the map you create
A – Author – the cartographer(s)
L – Legend – Show what any symbols, colors, patterns, etc. used on your map represent
D – Date – date map was created
O – Orientation – include a north arrow. While north is often toward the top of maps, this is not
always the case.
G – Grid – latitude and longitude lines.
S – Scale – you must include a graphic scale, verbal scale, and/or representative fraction
Mapping Assignment: Use the world map provided to do the following:
Part 1: Use the graphic scale on the world map to write an appropriate verbal scale and to
calculate the map’s representative fraction. Include all three types of scales in your map’s
legend.
Part 2: The table below lists five incidents where rouge waves damaged ships. Choose
appropriate symbols to map the locations of each incident.
Date
Vessel
Location
December 12, 1978
MS München
44ºN 24ºW
November 10, 1975
SS Edmund Fitzgerald
46°59.9′N 85°6.6′W
February 22, 2001
MS Bremen
45°54’S 38°58’W
March 2, 2001
MS Caledonian Star
53°03’S 63°35’W
April 16, 2005
Norwegian Dawn
32º28.6´ N 76º57.0´ W
Part 3: Show the locations of major ocean currents on the map. You may use any two colors
and/or symbols that you like to represent warm and cold currents. You can map as many
currents as you want, but be sure to at least include these:
Gulf Stream, Labrador Current, Kuroshio (Japan) Current, California Current, Canary
Current, North Equatorial Current, South Equatorial Current, North Atlantic Current
(Drift), East Australian Current, Peruvian (Peru) Current, Benguela Current, Brazil
Current, West Wind Drift, Agulhas Current, and the Southwest Monsoon Current
Use your atlas for help and be sure to include all of the TALDOGS on your map. In addition,
carefully consider the size and shape of any symbols and/or text on your map as well as the use
of patterns and/or color. Neatness counts!
Follow-up Questions:
1. What body of water was each vessel in when it encountered one or more rogue waves?
a. SS Edmund Fitzgerald
b. MS Bremen
c. MS Caledonian Star
d. Norwegian Dawn
2. Would you describe the map that you created as a large or small scale map? Explain.
Bonus Opportunity: There have been numerous reports of rogue waves in recent history. The
table below lists some of these events, but no absolute locations are given. Do some research
and see if you can track down the latitude and longitude where one or more of these events
occurred. Alternatively, you can list other events not mentioned here. In either case, provide the
coordinates and the source of your information. (2 points each, for up to a maximum of 6 points
for researching 3 events).
Date
Vessel
October 10, 1903
1933
1942
1966
1977
RMS Etruria
USS Ramapo
RMS Queen Mary
T/S Michelangelo
Stolt Surf
January 1, 1995
1995
February 2000
January 2006
Location
4 hours out of New York
North Pacific
700 miles from Scotland
North Atlantic
Pacific between
Singapore and Portland
oil platform
Central North Sea
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 North Atlantic
a British oceanographic west of Scotland
research vessel
Norwegian Spirit
off the coast of Tortola
Estimated Wave
Height
at least 50 feet
112 feet
28-meter
80 feet
>22-meter
84-foot
29 meters
95 feet