Volcano Under the City 2005
Distributed by WGBH Boston, 125 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134; 617-300-2000
Produced for NOVA by Gary Glassman
Directed by Antoine de Maximy
DVD, color, 56 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Science
Date Entered: 03/09/2006
Reviewed by Emily Hart, Daniel A. Reed Library, State University of New York College at FredoniaMount Nyiragongo awoke in a massive eruption on January 17, 2002. Over 100 people were killed, 120,000 were left homeless, and approximately 40 percent of the city of Goma, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, was destroyed. Scientists say that it is only a matter of time before the volcano will erupt again, and the damage could be far worse.
Over half a million people inhabit the city of Goma, which resides directly in the path of the volcano. Aside from the ever-present threat of an eruption, residents live with daily hazards caused by the volcano, including deadly levels of carbon dioxide, acid rain, and contaminated drinking water. As we speak, scientists are racing to collect data that will help to protect the city, and predict when the next eruption of Nyiragongo will occur.
This video follows volcanologist Jacques Durieux and his team through a series of dangerous experiments to collect samples of gases and magma from the volcano’s center and from the complex web of cracks in the earth’s surface branching out from the base of the volcano. Throughout the video, Durieux finds a variety of evidence supporting the imminent eruption of Nyiragongo. His findings include evidence of seismic activity around the volcano indicating the flow of magma, gas readings containing deadly levels of carbon dioxide in the cracks throughout the city of Goma, satellite images of Nyiragongo “breathing,” and highly explosive magma in the volcano’s center.
The film consists entirely of live footage as Durieux is tracked in his exploration of the ominous volcano. Viewers can literally feel the danger as we watch Durieux and his team make two separate treks into the volcano to capture an elusive sample of magma from the volcano’s center. While watching the video, it feels as though the volcano could erupt at any second. The video provides in depth details about the science behind Nyiragongo and the causes of volcanic eruptions. This video is both entertaining and educational. A series of printable materials for teachers are included on the DVD.