Killer volcanoes

Gr 6 Up—This episode plays out like a forensic murder investigation, beginning with the excavation of a medieval mass grave in London. (Despite the title, this program focuses on one volcanic eruption.) A century before the Black Death, the grave's occupants had fallen victim to a catastrophic famine. Using ice core samples recovered at both poles, scientists conjecture that a volcanic eruption in 1257 changed the earth's climate so severely that it caused the famine. A team of French and Indonesian volcanologists study weather patterns and analyze mineral compositions to pinpoint Lombok Island in Indonesia, where historical texts describe the destruction of an entire mountain. The excellent photography displays a lush tropical setting, and the program makes good use of computer animation to demonstrate volcanic processes. VERDICT History buffs and volcano enthusiasts will find this fascinating. However, general viewers (whether at home or in the classroom) may find its scope too narrow.—Ryan Henry, Daviess County Public Library, Owensboro, KY Copyright 2018 School Library Journal.

NOVA's expert team looks for the signature of a volcanic eruption big enough to have blasted a huge cloud of ash and sulfuric acid into the atmosphere. Killer Volcanoes spotlights the search for the mystery volcano that plunged the globe into a deep freeze and inflicted famine on medieval Europe.