Did you catch the BBC's Yellowstone docu-drama?

  • Thread starter Thread starter matthyaouw
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The BBC's recent docu-drama on the Yellowstone supervolcano effectively highlights the challenges faced by vulcanologists while maintaining factual accuracy. Viewers noted the dramatization of a pyroclastic flow car chase as unrealistic, contrasting it with the documentary's informative content. The discussion revealed that Yellowstone erupts approximately every 600,000 years, with the last eruption occurring around 640,000 years ago, emphasizing the geological significance of the active magma chamber. Participants expressed interest in the potential consequences of a supervolcanic eruption, including significant environmental impacts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of volcanic activity and supervolcanoes
  • Familiarity with geological timeframes and statistical analysis
  • Knowledge of the Yellowstone caldera and its geothermal features
  • Awareness of documentary filmmaking techniques and their impact on public perception
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the geological history of the Yellowstone supervolcano
  • Explore the implications of supervolcanic eruptions on global climate
  • Learn about the methods used in volcanic monitoring and risk assessment
  • Investigate the role of media in shaping public understanding of natural disasters
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for geologists, environmental scientists, documentary filmmakers, and anyone interested in the dynamics of volcanic activity and its portrayal in media.

matthyaouw
Gold Member
Messages
1,125
Reaction score
5
The BBC did quite a nice docu-drama on the Yellowstone supervolcano the other day, and I was wondering if anyone else got a chance to see it. I thought it was quite good to see a volcano based program with factual basis and accuracy (anyone who has seen the film "LA" may understand just how terrible things like that can be) and I thought it effectively highlighted the pressures that vulcanologists have to face in their line of work. The main things that I have to say annoyed me slightly were the pyroclastic flow car chase (Ok, it got the car in the end, but in real life there is no way in hell it could have outran for that long) and the shots of the magma chamber being a stereotypical lofty cavern with frothing bubbling lava.

If you missed this one, the USGS site mentions another one coming on the discovery channel in April

If anyone else saw it, I'd love to hear your oppinions on it.
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
I havn't seen the one you're talking about with the pyroclastic car chase. (o_0 ?) I saw one like last month on the Discovery Channel but I found that it was actually made by the BBC back in around 2001 or something, so I guess they have been making other ones.
 
I also viewed the one Sportsguy mentions, it might of been the most informative piece on volcanos in the USA I've ever seen. I will make it a point to watch this " pyroclastic flow car chase" when it airs.
Thanks for the information on it.
 
I saw a video on Super-Volcanoes two years ago, but not sure if it was the BBS production. It was aired right after one on Mega-Tsunamis. I think it was on Discovery channel. They like to air shows that arouse our emotions.
--->http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20050314/yellowstone.html

It was interesting to watch. I believe they showed, using satellite images, how Yellowstone is within a large caldera. I visited Yellowstone a few years back, camped out by Slew Creek and spent a week in the park exploring the geothermal basins. Was quite exciting having moose foraging for their breakfast right near my tent. :bugeye: The boiling pools, bubbling mudpots and blasting geysers were fantastic! ----> http://www.yellowstoneparknet.com/geothermal_features/geothermal_features.php

Some of the thoughts this show left me with were, that Yellowstone Volcano erupts on average every 600,000 years. And the last eruption was about 640,000 years ago. The magma chamber is active, raising the ground level in some parts of the park by more than 70cm over one century. In geological timeframes that bears our attention.

They point out the devastation that may ensue following a blast from a SuperVolcano. Ash in the sky, blocking out the sun's rays, possible ELF (extinction level event), Armageddon! (See how they can play with our emotions :biggrin:)

The concern is valid, but their statistical analysis appears skewed towards the worst case. The last three megaeruptions at Yellowstone were 640,000 yrs, 1,300,000 yrs, and 2,100,000 yrs ago. If you look at their intervals between eruption; (640,000-today), 1300,000-640,000) and (2100,000-1300,000); this averages to one megaeruption every 700,000 years, with a standard deviation of 87,000 years. With 96% confidence, each eruption occurs every 700,000 years +/- 2stddev. Statistically this implies we would be right 96% of the time in predicting the next eruption will occur sometime between today and 234,000yrs from now.. [700,000+(2*87,000)-640,000]. Hmmmm, that doesn't so bad :rolleyes:

Perhaps we can figure out a way to vent the pressure inside this caldera before it explodes, though that would mean we wouldn't have as many neat geysers to watch when we visit the park :frown:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
matthyaouw said:
The BBC did quite a nice docu-drama on the Yellowstone supervolcano the other day, and I was wondering if anyone else got a chance to see it.

I had it on for a while, but didn't pay enough attention to critique it. Didn't see the car chase.