NOVA: Mystery of the Megavolcano
Scientists make a shocking discovery --far back in the past, monster volcanoes erupted with cataclysmic violence, far greater than Vesuvius, Pinatubo, Mount St. Helens or any other volcano in recorded human history. Puzzling results from three different laboratories send volcano sleuths on a worldwide hunt for evidence, from Greenland's ice cap to Sumatra's jungles.The clues converge on an astounding possibility: that a single ancient eruption 75,000 years ago blasted ash and rock across an entire continent, spewing so much sulfuric acid into the atmosphere that Earth was plunged into a global deep freeze. But can they prove it? And could it happen again? Using vivid computer-generated imagery, follow the clues that reveal the biggest volcanic cataclysm in earth's history.And if these scientists are right, the ancient supervolcano they locate--and others like it, including a behemoth lurking beneath Yellowstone National Park--may someday reawaken, with catastrophic consequences for our modern world.Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired. On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: Region 1. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.