Catastrophe

Madman

R4 DVD

Catastrophe is a informative five part series narrated by Tony Robinson. Originally made by Chanel 4 U.K and shown on Australian television during January, it is available on DVD during March 2011. It is always fascinating to see how science evolves as new information is put on the table. The original model of evolution was a form of gradualism where everything developed step by step over immense periods of time; minor changes triggered further minor changes until the present was research. A more heretical school were the “catastrophists” who believed that while the Earth had evolved over vast periods of time, many of the changes which took place were caused by catastrophes which brought about drastic changes in relatively short periods. The second view was not a popular one until very recent developments in technology allowed scientists to undertake research produced new information on the history of the earth and proved just how dramatic its history really had been.

Using superb CGI each episode offers an amazing exploration of a unique near extinction event. Superbly produced combining dramatic footage, re-creations, interviews and experiments this is truly an entertaining and informative series. There are five episodes cover the major events in earth’s history.

The Birth of the Planet explores the event which not only made the Earth what it is created the moon. This catastrophe occurred when Thera, another planet on the same trajectory as Earth crashed into us causing the Earths unique tilt.

Snowball Earth explores a theory which is still controversial among scientists. It suggests that when all of the Earth’s landmass was joined and located around the equator an imbalance occurred and the earth ended up covered with ice thousands of metres thick. This was such as disaster event that only massive volcanic activity saved the planet from total extinction.

Planet of Fire looks at the Permian period. During this epoch some 250 million years ago a volcanic explosion in the Siberian Traps triggered a chain reaction which turned the Earth into a fireball with 95% of all life dying out as a result. Also discussed is out current greenhouse gas emissions which could be just as high as those which triggered the Permian extinction.

Asteroid Strike looks at the disaster 65 million years ago which wiped out the dinosaurs. It shows the research which went into finding where the asteroid hit. Scientists followed a trail of Iridium and shattered quartz until they finally, with a bit of luck, were able to locate the strike site in the Yucatan Peninsula. While this was a disaster for the dinosaurs it did allow the survival of smaller creatures which resulted in mammals becoming the prime species on Earth, certainly good for us !

Survival Earth examines the more recent events which have affected man. These include the volcanic eruption which wiped out most of India’s population, perhaps even down to 600 people, some 75,000 years ago. The ice age 13,000 years ago and an asteroid hit in America not long after and its effect on the Mega Fauna of the American continent and the Clovis people. Tony Robinson also discusses possible future catastrophes and how we would cope.

This is a superb series, challenging, informative and bringing together a mixture of presentations with great CGI and intelligent content.

Very highly recommended.

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