2: Atmosphere | Earth: The Power of the Planet

Duration: 59'03''

Synopsis

Dr Iain Stewart reveals the natural forces that shaped the earth. He traces the history of the atmosphere, from the ozone layer's creation to its current destruction.

Further Information

More clips from Earth: The Power of the Planet

1: Volcano | Earth: The Power of the Planet

1: Volcano | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'10''

Dr Iain Stewart tells the story of planet Earth. Although they appear to be destructive, volcanoes have been crucial to the devel...

3: Ice | Earth: The Power of the Planet

3: Ice | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 59'08''

Documentary series in which Dr Iain Stewart tells the story of the earth's development. Ice isn't just something to put in a gin and ...

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

4: Oceans | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 58'42''

Iain travels to surfers' paradise Hawaii to learn more about oceans, explaining the difference between waves, tides and currents.

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...

How glaciers form | Earth: The Power of the Planet

How glaciers form | Earth: The Power of the Planet

BBC Two | 2007 | 2'54''

Dr Iain Stewart explains how snow is transformed into glacier ice.

More resources about Causes of weather

Wind | Wild Weather

Wind | Wild Weather

BBC One | 2002 | 58'27''

Series in which Donal Macintyre goes in search of the world's wildest weather. This edition uses 3-D graphics to illustrate how wind and weather systems ...

3: Temperature: The Driving Force | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

3: Temperature: The Driving Force | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC One | 2014 | 57'57''

Richard Hammond investigates the crucial role temperature plays in all weather. He builds a dust storm ...

Rainfall | Wild Weather With Richard Hammond

Rainfall | Wild Weather With Richard Hammond

BBC One | 2014 | 6'13''

Why does water fall as rain? Richard Hammond demonstrates the effect of water on other physical objects.

1: Wind: The Invisible Force | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

1: Wind: The Invisible Force | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC One | 2014 | 57'58''

Richard Hammond investigates how wind actually starts. He walks into the centre of a man-made tornado and vi...

2: Water: The Shape Shifter | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

2: Water: The Shape Shifter | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC One | 2014 | 57'57''

Richard Hammond investigates the role water plays in the weather. He tries to weigh a cloud, finds out how ra...

Measuring Tornadoes | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

Measuring Tornadoes | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC Four | 2014 | 5'23''

Richard Hammond measures the wind speed of a tornado.

Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

BBC Two | 2012 | 58'23''

Kate Humble and Dr Helen Czerski follow the Earth's voyage around the sun for one complete orbit, travelling first from July to the Dece...

Wet | Wild Weather

Wet | Wild Weather

BBC One | 2002 | 58'02''

A series in which Donal Macintyre goes in search of the world's wildest weather. In this programme, he learns about floods and the world's wettest places.

2: The Sun | A Perfect Planet

2: The Sun | A Perfect Planet

BBC One | 2021 | 58'03''

From the frozen poles to the searing deserts, this episode shows how animals have come up with strategies to survive the uneven amounts of sunl...

2: Water | How Earth Made Us

2: Water | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 58'58''

Professor Iain Stewart continues his epic exploration of how the planet has shaped human history. He investigates how water has influenced the r...

3: Weather | A Perfect Planet

3: Weather | A Perfect Planet

BBC One | 2021 | 57'57''

How weather controls the distribution of freshwater on Earth, which in turn shapes the lives of animals in diverse habitats around the globe.

3: Wind | How Earth Made Us

3: Wind | How Earth Made Us

BBC Two | 2010 | 58'52''

Professor Iain Stewart sets sail on one of the fastest racing boats ever built to explore the story of our turbulent relationship with the wind.

Avalanche | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

Avalanche | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC Four | 2014 | 1'36''

Richard Hammond discusses the potential power of snow in the form of an avalanche.

Dust Storms | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

Dust Storms | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC Four | 2014 | 7'21''

Richard Hammond explains what happens inside a dust storm.

El Niño | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

El Niño | Journeys into the Ring of Fire

BBC Four | 2006 | 2'12''

Iain Stewart explains the causes and impacts of the warmer waters created by the El Niño effect.

Episode 2 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

Episode 2 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

BBC Two | 2012 | 58'58''

Kate Humble and Dr Helen Czerski follow the Earth's voyage around the sun for one complete orbit, this time travelling from ...

Episode 3 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

Episode 3 | Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey

BBC Two | 2012 | 58'01''

Kate Humble is in the Arctic, where spring arrives with a bang. Helen Czerski chases a tornado to show how the earth's angle...

Episode 3 | The Great British Weather

Episode 3 | The Great British Weather

BBC One | 2011 | 55'46''

Alexander Armstrong, Chris Hollins and Carol Kirkwood are live in Greenwich Park as they take a look at the sun and the unique role it ...

Fire Whirl | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

Fire Whirl | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC Four | 2014 | 6'23''

Richard Hammond demonstrates a fire whirl and explains how fire accentuates wind speed.

Hail | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

Hail | Wild Weather with Richard Hammond

BBC Four | 2014 | 2'26''

Richard Hammond explains how hail is formed by looking at the layers inside a hail stone.

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

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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

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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

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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 ...

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

1: Scotland's Trees | Making Scotland's Landscape

BBC One | 2010 | 59'30''

Professor Iain Stewart reveals how Scotland's unique landscape was shaped. Here, he uncovers the devastating impact of mank...

1: Deep Time | Men of Rock

1: Deep Time | Men of Rock

BBC Two | 2010 | 59'05''

Iain Stewart tells the story of James Hutton, the founding father of geology. This Scottish thinker overturned ancient beliefs about how and when ...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

1: Tsunamis | 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

BBC Four | 2008 | 58'56''

Iain Stewart journeys across the oceans to explore stories about the most powerful giant waves in history, including how one...

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.