2: Earthquakes | 10 Things You Didn’t Know About…

Duration: 59'05''

Synopsis

Iain Stewart reveals the stories and science behind some of the world's most dramatic earthquakes, including how 1960s Cold War spying gave scientists a clue to understanding them.

Further Information

More clips from 02: Earthquakes

Cascadian Fault Line | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Cascadian Fault Line | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 6'44''

Iain Stewart investigates the Cascadian Fault Line and explains what causes super-thrust earthquakes.

Cold War Rivalry | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Cold War Rivalry | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 4'11''

During the Cold War, America's use of seismometers to record Soviet nuclear tests lead to important discoveries about p...

Deadliest Earthquake in History | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Deadliest Earthquake in History | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 3'50''

Iain Stewart investigates the world's deadliest earthquake that happened in China in 1556.

Earthquake Engineering | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Earthquake Engineering | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 5'01''

Iain Stewart investigates the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and how buildings are now being engineered in Mexico to...

Predicting earthquakes in Turkey | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Predicting earthquakes in Turkey | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 4'49''

Scientists have developed a method of predicting earthquakes on the North Anatolian Fault.

The Cause: Plate Tectonics | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

The Cause: Plate Tectonics | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 1'30''

Iain Stewart explains how the earth is divided into plates and how movement between these plates produces ear...

The Moon | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

The Moon | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 2'01''

Earth's gravitational pull on the moon causes moonquakes, which can last for up to an hour. Iain Stewart explains why.

The San Andreas Fault | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

The San Andreas Fault | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 1'55''

Iain Stewart discusses the discovery of the San Andreas Fault and how it triggered important discoveries about wha...

More resources about Earthquake causes and effects

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami | Volcano Live

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 2'44''

Demonstrations of what happened to cause the earthquake and then tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004.

Aftershock: The Turkey-Syria Earthquake | Panorama

Aftershock: The Turkey-Syria Earthquake | Panorama

BBC One | 2023 | 28'56''

More than 30,000 people are known to have been killed in the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria. Panorama asks if...

Building upwards | World's Busiest Cities

Building upwards | World's Busiest Cities

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'25''

Earthquake protection in Mexico City's building design.

Disaster on Everest | Panorama

Disaster on Everest | Panorama

BBC One | 2015 | 29'14''

BBC reporter Tom Martienssen shares his footage of Everest taken after the devastating Nepalese earthquake. He reveals a story of an extraordi...

Earthquake prediction | World's Busiest Cities

Earthquake prediction | World's Busiest Cities

BBC Two | 2017 | 2'24''

The vital importance of earthquake prediction in Mexico City.

Earthquake protection | World's Busiest Cities

Earthquake protection | World's Busiest Cities

BBC Two | 2017 | 3'25''

Dan Snow investigates the devastating impact that earthquakes are having on the city. He visits an organisation that save peop...

Earthquakes And Seismic Waves | Short Circuit

Earthquakes And Seismic Waves | Short Circuit

BBC Two | 2009 | 18'48''

Bringing chemistry, physics and biology to life using real-life examples, 3D graphics and practical experiments.

Japan Earthquake: A Horizon Special with Iain Stewart | Horizon

Japan Earthquake: A Horizon Special with Iain Stewart | Horizon

BBC Two | 2011 | 57'01''

Professor Iain Stewart examines the powerful geological forces that unleashed the devastating Japanese earthq...

Plate tectonics | Volcano Live

Plate tectonics | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 3'50''

Professor Iain Stewart explains how plate tectonics cause volcanos and earthquakes.

San Francisco Earthquake | Surviving Disaster

San Francisco Earthquake | Surviving Disaster

BBC One | 2006 | 57'54''

On 17 October 1989 a tremor measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale cause major damage to San Francisco.

Seismic waves | Volcano Live

Seismic waves | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 2'22''

Demonstration of the two types of seismic wave in an onland earthquake - primary and secondary.

The Geology of Japan | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

The Geology of Japan | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC Four | 2006 | 2'20''

Iain Stewart explains the geology of the tectonic plates that make up the landscapes of Japan.

The Great San Francisco Earthquake

The Great San Francisco Earthquake

Channel 4 | 2006 | 1'40'51''

This feature-length docu-drama marks the 100th anniversary of the devastating San Francisco Earthquake on April 18, 1906. Using a combinat...

The worst earthquake-triggered landslide in recorded history | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

The worst earthquake-triggered landslide in recorded history | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC Four | 2006 | 3'19''

On Sunday 31 May 1970, an earthquake shook the centre of Peru, which then trigg...

Tokyo Earthquake | Q.E.D.

Tokyo Earthquake | Q.E.D.

BBC One | 1993 | 29'35''

**DISCLAIMER FROM THE BBC** Please note that there are shots of corpses in this programme, and potentially upsetting material contrasting the lives...

Earthquake reenactment | Fierce Earth

Earthquake reenactment | Fierce Earth

CBBC | 2013 | 3'21''

Zoe experiences a re-enactment of the aftermath of an earthquake and finds out what you should do up to 72hrs after to survive.

Earthquake simulator | Fierce Earth

Earthquake simulator | Fierce Earth

CBBC | 2013 | 1'47''

Dougal experience an earthquake simulator which mimics the sensation and can prepare you for future dangers.

Earthquake-proof building | Fierce Earth

Earthquake-proof building | Fierce Earth

CBBC | 2013 | 4'45''

Zoe and Dougal look at Japan's tallest building which took influence from an earthquake-proof pagoda built 400-years ago.

Preparing for an earthquake | Fierce Earth

Preparing for an earthquake | Fierce Earth

CBBC | 2013 | 4'01''

Zoe and Dougal are in Japan to find out to survive if your in an earthquake zone.

S1E5: Earthquakes | Fierce Earth

S1E5: Earthquakes | Fierce Earth

CBBC | 2013 | 28'15''

The team explores the phenomenon of the earthquake. Clare and Mike train with one of the top international rescue teams. Leo takes on a dang...

More from Iain Stewart

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

1: Deep Earth | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'24''

Series telling the story of how the development of civilisation was influenced by planetary forces. Professor Iain Stewart explores the rol...

5: Rare Earth | Earth: The Power of the Planet

5: Rare Earth | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 58'54''

Life on Earth prospers because it enjoys the right amount of heat from the sun, and the atmosphere prevents meteorite bombardm...

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

Episode 1 | Planet Oil: The Treasure That Conquered The World

BBC Four | 2017 | 59'16''

From the moment we first drilled for oil, we opened a Pandora's box that changed the world forever. It transfor...

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

Eurasia | Rise of the Continents

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'04''

Professor Iain Stewart shows that where the south of Eurasia is today there was once an ocean and how, in 250 million years, all of the cont...

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

Iceland Erupts: A Volcano Live Special | Volcano Live

BBC Two | 2012 | 59'03''

Kate Humble heads to Iceland and meets the scientists monitoring the country's most dangerous volcanoes. She also inves...

2: The Power Of Flowers | How To Grow A Planet

2: The Power Of Flowers | How To Grow A Planet

BBC One | 2012 | 59'05''

In the second episode, Iain discovers how flowers have transformed our planet. He journeys to the remote islands of the South ...

Trees and carbon dioxide | Making Scotland's Landscape

Trees and carbon dioxide | Making Scotland's Landscape

BBC One | 2010 | 2'35''

The important role that trees play in clearing carbon dioxide.

Cliffhanger | Men of Rock

Cliffhanger | Men of Rock

BBC Two | 2010 | 2'05''

Dr Iain Stewart climbs a coastal sea stack and explains its geology.

Boxing Day Tsunami | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

Boxing Day Tsunami | 10 Things You Didn't Know About…

BBC Four | 2008 | 4'17''

Iain Stewart explains what caused the Boxing Day Tsunami and discusses its devastating impact.

Earthquake proof buildings and liquefaction | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

Earthquake proof buildings and liquefaction | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC Four | 2006 | 2'24''

Iain Stewart investigates how Japanese buildings have been designed to withstand earthquakes.