The Shipping Forecast Area is a region of the North Atlantic Ocean that is monitored by the British Meteorological Office. It is divided into 31 areas, each with its own unique weather conditions. The four areas mentioned in the crossword are Biscay, Humber, Thames and Dogger, all of which are located in the North Sea. The Faroes area is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of Scotland. All of these areas are included in the Shipping Forecast Area and are monitored for weather conditions that could affect shipping.