10PM/9Central
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Episodes&content_type_id=1434&display_order=2&mini_id=1401Mega Disasters : Glacier Meltdown
Airs on Tuesday September 25 10:00 PM
As temperatures rise, a global meltdown has begun. From the Andes to the Himalayas to the Alps, glaciers are vanishing. In Antarctica and Greenland, vast ice sheets are turning into liquid. The melting ice, running off land, is raising sea levels. As sea levels rise, oceans throughout the world are also becoming hotter. Warmer seas fuel more intense hurricanes. Already, major catastrophes brought on by the process of melting ice, rising seas and intensifying storms have occurred in coastal communities around the world: the South Pacific, Bangladesh and--closer to home--New Orleans. Scientists predict that the worst is yet to come. The rising oceans may swallow some lands forever. By the turn of the century, the map of the world may need to be redrawn and a Category 4 hurricane could drown much of Washington, DC in 15 feet of water.
Mega Disasters : Glacier Meltdown
Airs on Wednesday September 26 02:00 AM
Mega Disasters : Gamma Ray Burst
Airs on Saturday September 29 10:00 AM
Scientists at the University of Kansas believe gamma ray bursts were responsible for a great mass extinction on Earth 450 million years ago. The gamma rays strip away the ozone layer and generate chemical smog, producing a widespread chill that grips the Earth. It would cause food chains to collapse resulting in a prolonged worldwide famine. Also, an expected electromagnetic pulse will zap all of our electronics. Scientists predict the Earth will be able to support only 5 to 10 percent of its current population; that means close to 6 billion people will die--most by starvation. How will our modern cities hold up in the face of a previous global catastrophe?
Mega Disasters : Comet Catastrophe
Airs on Saturday September 29 11:00 AM
The cause of the Biblical Great Flood may have been a massive three-mile wide comet that crashed in the Indian Ocean, 4,800 years ago. It is believed to have decimated over 60% of Earth's population. A similar comet, crashing into the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco, could cause millions of casualties followed by a lethal mega tsunami, earthquake, torrential rains and a nuclear winter. Is the next massive impact just around the corner?
Mega Disasters : Krakatoa's Revenge
Airs on Saturday September 29 12:00 PM
In 1883, Krakatoa, the most famous and feared volcano on Earth, erupted. Gigantic explosions blew the volcano to bits, which triggered massive lava flows that generated huge tsunamis. Nearly 37,000 died, the greatest death toll caused by a volcanic eruption. It could happen again. Watch as state of the art models, 3D animations and practical demonstrations show how the eruption occurred. Leading experts speculate on the impact of a mega eruption today. Would the resulting colossal ash cloud cause a worldwide catastrophe?
Mega Disasters : Comet Catastrophe
Airs on Saturday September 29 08:00 PM
Mega Disasters : Gamma Ray Burst
Airs on Saturday September 29 09:00 PM