This program erodes the myth of
the mountain as a solid, permanent structure. Animations are used to illustrate
the process of orogeny (mountain building) through accretion and erosion, as
well as the role of plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and how different types of
rock are formed in the course of mountain building.
A visit to the Grand Canyon lays
the foundation for this exploration of rock layers and deformation. The program
covers sedimentation, major structures, the methods used to examine them, and
how petroleum may be trapped inside them. It also looks at tectonic force and
the different types of stress involved in the formation of geologic structures.
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Video Episode 109:
Earthquakes
(Mar 19:
11AM-Noon, Mar 22 & 24: 11PM-Midnight)
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Showing actual footage of
earthquakes and their aftermath, this program discusses the forces that fuel
these massive events. Faults, waves, and the transfer of energy from the
epicenter are explained, and histories of the seismograph and Richter scale are
presented. The program also describes devices being developed to study — and
eventually predict — earthquakes.
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Video Episode 110:
Geologic Time
(Mar 19: 11AM-Noon, Mar 22 &
24: 11PM-Midnight)
To illustrate the immensity of
geologic time, the entire span of Earth’s
existence is compressed down to a
year. The timeline of major geologic
events is superimposed onto the year for a
condensed view of Earth’s evolution. A relationship between this timeline and
that of life on Earth is established, with fossils and radiocarbon dating
playing a major role in the discovery.
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