Volcanoes 101 Today we know volcanoes are openings or vents to the interior of the planet. About 1,500 volcanoes around the world are considered active, about 90% rest in the Ring of Fire, a band circling the Pacific Ocean.  While the Earth’s surface looks peaceful the crust is made up of slabs of rock that constantly shift, where the plates interact, volcanoes often form. Friction from shifting plates melts the Earth’s crust, causing ro
Kilauea Volcano Erupts - Dramatic Video
This video is suitable for older elementary, middle school, and high school students. Kilauea is the youngest and southeastern most volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Topographically Kilauea appears as only a bulge on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa, and so for many years Kilauea was thought to be a mere satellite of its giant neighbor, not a separate volcano. However, research over the past few decades shows clearly that Kilauea has its own magma-plumbing system, extending to the surface
Violent Volcanoes
This video features outstanding images of volcanic activity. Images are a selection of favorite volcano photos submitted to MY SHOT by National Geographic readers. There is no narration; just background music. Video quality is excellent.
Seconds From Disaster: St. Helen's Eruption
Interviews and reenactments from survivors of a Mount St. Helen blast. Watch as they fight through the ash and cope with the aftermath from a volcano eruption. Some scenes may be upsetting for young children. Run time 02:47.
Volcano Eruptions : How Long Do Volcanoes Erupt?
The length of a volcanic eruption can vary dramatically, and some eruptions have been known to last continuously for decades. Learn about the lack of ability in predicting the length of volcanoes with help from the chair of a department of environmental studies in this video on volcano eruptions.
Expert: Jack Hall
Bio: Dr. Jack Hall is the department chair in the department of environmental studies at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Filmmaker: Rendered Co
Dating Lava Flows on Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii
For hundreds of thousands of years, lava flows have created intricate patterns on the slopes of Hawaiʻi's Mauna Loa volcano. Until the mid-1970s, it was impossible to know when each of the flows occurred. However, as this video segment adapted from NOVA describes, scientists are now using tiny artifacts of life encased in hardened lava flows to piece together the mountain's complex geological and biological history. Closed captioning included. Run time 04:36.
How Did Life Emerge Here
The tip of a new volcanic island appears above the surface of the ocean. Solidified black lava gleams in the sunshine. Although it may not be obvious, the processes that will turn this new piece of land into a tropical paradise have already begun. This video segment adapted from NOVA chronicles an island's transformation from a barren lava flow to a rich ecosystem. Closed captioning included. Run time 05:13.
Volcano Eruptions
This is the best way to see the fury of a volcano -- through the lens of a camera. These scenes/images (30 seconds) should be prefaced with discussions about volcanoes.
Earthquake 101
This National Geographic video shows what happens to the earth's crust to cause an earthquake. When the trembling stops, the disaster is only the beginning. (02:38)
Earthquakes: Causes
This is a short, one-minute video that describes how and why earthquakes happen. The video shows photos of actual fault lines, as well as simple animation.
Earthquake Country; 2 Plate Tectonics
This video is suitable for middle school and high school students. Through live-action demonstrations and vivid animations, Dr. Pat Abbott explains how earthquakes have shaped the scenery and the character of the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Abbott shows how faults capable of large earthquakes lie beneath most of the area, posing great risk to the millions of people living in earthquake country. Animations illustrate how and why earthquakes happen, how mountains and valleys have formed as a res
Earthquake Country, Introduction
There are other segments of this series on WatchKnow. This is the introductory series to 'Earthquake' country which is suitable for middle school and high school students. Through live-action demonstrations and vivid animations, Dr. Pat Abbott explains how earthquakes have shaped the scenery and the character of the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Abbott shows how faults capable of large earthquakes lie beneath most of the area, posing great risk to the millions of people living in earthquake coun
Earthquake Country; Seismic Waves
There are other segments of this series on WatchKnow. This is the 'Earthquake Country' series which is suitable for middle school and high school students. Through live-action demonstrations and vivid animations, Dr. Pat Abbott explains how earthquakes have shaped the scenery and the character of the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Abbott shows how faults capable of large earthquakes lie beneath most of the area, posing great risk to the millions of people living in earthquake country. Animations
Earthquake Investigations
From Dragonfly TV. Claire and Nisha live in San Francisco, a place where earthquakes are NOT science fiction! The girls wondered if they could learn how the earth moves in an earthquake by looking around the city. Their DTV question to be investigated in this episode: How does the earth move when there's an earthquake?
When Nature fights back: Earthquakes
This video shows the devastation of earthquakes. It examines some of the most powerful earthquakes and their aftermath. Run time 52:19.
Renewable Natural Resources
Describes what a renewable natural resource is and why they are important. grades 5-9. No narration, only subtitles and nature sounds. 1:09 min.
Palm Springs WindMills "Secrets of the WindMills" Everything you ever wanted to know about the Palm Springs or any other windmills, but were afraid to ask. KESQ-TV's Gil Diaz goes behind the locked gates to reveal the "Secrets of the Windmills". Video gives specifics of the wind mill, 228 feet tall and blades nearly 100 feet long. There are about 4,800 wind mills, they were first installed in 1981, they installed as an experiment by NASA. Where they are installed is the second most consistently windy place in
How Wind Power Is Created
Wind power is created by windmills, which use generators to
produce electricity that is gathered by wires. Find out why some
windmills produce more energy than others with information from a
science teacher in this video.
Tides and Waves
This is a segment of the Ocean Odyssey series that describes tides and waves and how they are created by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon. Produced specifically for students and is suitable for elementary and older students.Â
(This is an Emmy award-winning series of instructional programs that introduces students in grades 3-5 to NASA and integrates mathematics, science, and technology through the use of Problem-Based Learning (PBL), scientific inquiry, and the scientific
"Pychedelic" Fish Hops on Seafloor
A newly discovered frogfish is seen here. It is dubbed the psychedelic fish because of its colorful stripes and hops along the seabed by flexing its lower fin and shooting water from its gills. This new species was found in 2008. Run time 01:53.
