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As shown on the History Channel. In the remote wastes of Siberia buried under snow are the remains of one of the greatest catastrophes that the Earth has endured. 250 million years ago, huge volumes of lava spewed out onto the surface--so much that it would have buried the whole of Texas under one mile of lava. At first the temperature dipped but then the greenhouse gases that escaped from the depressurized lava caused a massive global warming. It wreaked havoc, and 95% of the species on Earth became extinct. Yet life hung on and in time this disaster paved the way for the next phase of life on earth--the age of the dinosaurs.
(Source: DCMP)
For over a century, tens of millions of visitors have marveled at the natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park, home to the largest concentration of geysers in the world, including the iconic Old Faithful. Visitors may not realize it, but Yellowstone is situated directly above one of the largest volcanic systems on Earth-a supervolcano. For the past two million years, this volcano has erupted roughly every 600,000 years. The last major eruption, which produced a caldera that stretches over 1,500 square miles across the park-two-thirds the size of Prince Edward Island-occurred 640,000 years ago. So, is it overdue for another eruption?
Pompeii, Italy, resort city for wealthy Romans, was buried under volcanic ash and debris for 1500 years when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Reenactments and scenes from the excavated city blend into an abbreviated account of what happened that day. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy.
Photogrammetry is the science of making precise measurements by the use of photography. United States Geological Survey (USGS) geologist Angie Diefenbach describes how she uses a digital camera and computer software to understand the growth rate of lava domes during a volcanic eruption.
Scientists believe that 80 percent of the volcanic eruptions on Earth take place in the ocean. Most of these volcanoes are thousands of feet deep and difficult to find. In May of 2009, scientists captured the deepest ocean eruption ever found. Nearly 4000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the West Mata volcano was discovered.
The area of Southern Washington State around the Mount St. Helens Volcano has been nearly devoid of life since the 1980 eruption – making it a biology lab like no other as scientists observe it springing back to life. The regenerating ecosystem offers biologist John Bishop of Washington State University in Vancouver a chance to study what happens as the mountain springs back to life. Bishop and his team are learning that recovery of an ecosystem is unpredictable and fragile, particularly by observing the impact of a small invader species insect from the weevil family.
Is it possible that climate change could have kick-started the end of antiquity and heralded the beginning of the Dark Ages? New scientific insights point to the impact of the eruption of the Ilopango Volcano in Central America. The eruption was violent and propelled ash into the stratosphere. As a result, the sun struggled to break through the ash. The following 10 years were extraordinarily cold, and this was the beginning of a time period marked by famine, war, and an almost complete loss of cultural heritage. Part of the "How Climate Made History" series.
As shown on the History Channel. Mount Vesuvius is the world's most dangerous volcano, and it threatens three million people. It was responsible for the most famous natural disaster of ancient history, the eruption that destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii. And its most recent blast was caught on film in 1944. Today Vesuvius is the most densely populated volcano in the world. Now recent scientific discoveries show that it is capable of an eruption larger than ever before thought possible and that hidden beneath Vesuvius there is a vast magma chamber of boiling hot rock, ready to come out.
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is one of the best places on Earth to study processes within basaltic volcanoes. Its high eruption frequency, easy access to lavas, and distinct geologic setting far from plate boundaries or continents allow researchers to address fundamental problems related to active volcanoes. Another constant at Kilauea, besides the flowing lava, has been University of Hawaii geologist Mike Garcia. With support from the National Science Foundation, Garcia has been leading studies of Kilauea for a generation, adding to the extensive knowledge base on this volcano. Two of the primary goals are to determine what has triggered Kilauea’s effusive, explosive cycles over the last 2200 years and when long eruptions, such as the current one, will stop. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Volcanic ash is known to present hazards to aviation, infrastructure, agriculture, and human and animal health. Airborne ash coats the exteriors of aircraft, enters modern jet engines and melts while coating the interior parts thus causing damage and failure. With support from the National Science Foundation, Volcanologist Dork Sahagian and his colleagues are learning more about the aerodynamic properties of ash, and how long different sizes and shapes stay in the atmosphere. They use a wind tunnel to study how ash travels in the atmosphere during and after volcanic eruptions. They want to develop ways to predict when and for how long damaging ash will fill the skies, and when it’s safe to fly again.
United States Geological Survey geologist, Angie Diefenbach, describes how she uses GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software to study volcanic erupts and their impacts on society.
Volcanic ash is geographically the most widespread of all volcanic hazards. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) geologist Larry Mastin describes how volcanic ash can disrupt lives many thousands of miles from an erupting volcano. The development of ash cloud models and ash cloud disruption to air traffic is highlighted.
While it may not always seem possible, Earth is continually changing. Students gain insight into geological processes such as the formation of land, erosion, and volcanic eruptions. Other Earth processes are also investigated.
Over 3500 years ago, a Minoan Community flourished on Santorini Island. Archeologists have discovered artifacts and frescos this Bronze Age civilizations left behind. Evidence from the archeological dig suggests the culprit of their demise was the Santorini Volcano. Further evidence supports that Santorini’s eruption was more massive and destructive than Vesuvius. Segment of video from Wild Chronicles Series.
Part of a series that features a wide variety of video footage, photographs, diagrams and colorful, animated graphics and labels. For this particular video, students will focus on the geological causes of a tsunami and their devastating effects on land and people. Part of the Science Video Vocab Series.
California’s Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. The monument is also home to more than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, and historic battlefields from America’s Native American wars.
Antarctica' largest ice shelf is giving off some spooky vibes. With the help of extremely sensitive seismic sensors, scientists confirmed that winds blowing across the snow dunes of the ice shelf cause the surface to rumble. Other segments include the oldest clue of animal life, volcanic super-eruptions, and contraction and expansion of the tropical belt. Part of the "4 Awesome Discoveries You Probably Didn't Hear About This Week" series.
The rock pocket mouse is a living example of Darwin’s process of natural selection. Not only is evolution happening right now everywhere around us, but adaptive changes can occur in a population with remarkable speed. This speed is essential if you’re a desert mouse living in an environment where a volcanic eruption can reverse selective pressure in nearly an instant. The film features Dr. Michael Nachman, whose work in the field and in the lab has quantified the selective pressure of predators and identified the genes involved in adaptation. In a complete story, from ecosystem to molecules, pocket mice show us how random changes in the genome can take many paths to the same adaptation—a colored coat that hides them from predators.
The rock pocket mouse is a living example of Darwin's process of natural selection. Not only is evolution happening right now everywhere around us, but adaptive changes can occur in a population with remarkable speed. This speed is essential if you're a desert mouse living in an environment where a volcanic eruption can reverse selective pressure in nearly an instant. Features Dr. Michael Nachman, whose work in the field and in the lab has quantified the selective pressure of predators and identified the genes involved in adaptation. From ecosystem to molecules, pocket mice show the viewers how random changes in the genome can take many paths to the same adaptation-a colored coat that hides them from predators.
