- 3 weeks ago
From breathtaking phenomena few have witnessed to warnings of a massive volcanic eruption, nature is full of surprises. Are we prepared for what’s coming?
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00:00If you were visiting Earth from another planet, your rational mind just wouldn't understand how
00:05singing dunes and moving balls of lightning were scientifically possible. I bet you'll feel like
00:12these images are just stills from your favorite sci-fi movie. You better hope you never find
00:18yourself alone near Catatumbo River in Venezuela during one of its lightning storms. Because if
00:24you were, you'd be surprised to find out that lightning works both ways, meaning it can come
00:29from the sky and from the ground. Terrifying, I know. Scientists think that in this case,
00:34it probably happens because of a high presence of uranium in the bedrock. But it can also happen
00:40due to cold and warm air currents that meet around that area. This makes the electric field get all
00:46charged up and the bolt flips, traveling from ground to cloud. Scientists even have a fancy name for it,
00:53upward lightning. This special place called Catatumbo River became famous because of its
01:00light shows. Actually, the name means House of Thunder in the local language. This phenomenon
01:06happens for up to 160 nights a year, and it can last around 9 hours a day. When scientists counted,
01:14they realized that the area could produce anything from 16 to 40 flashes of lightning per minute.
01:22Now, you've probably heard of Marco Polo, the 13th century Venetian merchant and world traveler.
01:28Well, in one of his voyages, he came across what he could only describe as singing dunes.
01:34The dunes literally started rumbling, like they were playing drums, and freaked him out so much,
01:40he thought it was the works of evil invisible entities messing with him. Fast forward to our times,
01:46and scientists have discovered how sand dunes produce these rumbles. A team of scientists studied
01:53a singing dune in Morocco. They chose a large crescent-shaped one that makes noise all year
01:59round. If the wind is right, this dune can sing a few times every afternoon. It turns out that the
02:07wind
02:07forces sand to accumulate at the top of the dune until the angle of the slope reaches a tipping point
02:13of about 35 degrees. This accumulated sand drops down like an avalanche, and that's what produces
02:20a sound. The sand needs to be dry enough for the singing to happen, though. They're like nature's
02:26boombox. Isn't that something? This next one might be the most disturbing of them all. First,
02:33you'll see a flash of lightning. Then, a thundering boom. And finally, a curious light floating through
02:40the air and bouncing off surfaces like a white electric ball. Would you also hide under your
02:46blanket if you witnessed something like this? That's what an old lady did when she witnessed
02:50this from bed in her Chicago apartment. It turns out, people have been swapping their own ball lightning
02:57stories for hundreds of years. An English monk's report from the early 1000s might be the oldest version
03:03of these accounts. It talks about a fiery globe descending from a storm cloud and falling into
03:09the river Thames. The thing is, scientists aren't entirely sure what causes it. But one theory involves
03:16lightning striking silica-rich soil. This can vaporize silica, creating tiny particles bound by
03:23electrical charges. When these particles react with oxygen, they produce glowing orbs, which can last a few
03:30seconds. Some other theories say that it can be linked to miniature black holes or even
03:37hallucinations. But the silica explanation is the best contender so far. What they know for sure is
03:44that ball lightning is often linked to stormy weather. If you'd wake up in the middle of a wintry night
03:50and
03:51saw these lights, you'd probably think otherworldly people were invading our world. Or you'd feel like
03:57one of the lucky people who got to see the northern lights during your lifetime. But none are correct.
04:03These beautiful shafts of pastel-colored light were photographed by a guy in Ontario, Canada.
04:10They happen when tiny, flat ice crystals that usually reside up in the atmosphere float closer to the
04:17ground. They're sometimes called columns of violet light, and they reflect light from sources like
04:23street lights or cars. These reflections stretch into tall, colorful columns that look like they're
04:30glowing in the sky. The best part is that it's mostly an optical illusion. The pillars aren't really in the
04:37air. They're just a trick of light bouncing off the ice. Somewhere near Buffalo, New York, you'll find a
04:45surreal combination of the fire and water elements. This phenomenon is called the eternal flame falls,
04:52precisely because it never stops burning, even if it's so near the water. This is due to a chemical
05:00reaction where gas leaks out of the ground and combusts with the air. It's one out of a few hundred
05:07natural eternal flames around the world. But the 30 feet tall waterfall is probably the most beautiful
05:14one. Now, how does it get lit the first time around? Usually, eternal flames can be ignited by lightning,
05:22human activity, or something called piezoelectricity, which is basically when certain materials make
05:29electricity when you squeeze, press, or twist them. Scientists believe that Native Americans lit these flames
05:36thousands of years ago, but that's just a hunch. Have you ever imagined going for a midnight swim
05:42and suddenly finding yourself surrounded by a glowing blue haze? As if there were huge cannons of light
05:50coming out of the seabed directly into the surface. This phenomenon is rare, but it sure is magical.
05:57This chemical reaction is known as bioluminescence, and it can happen in different situations.
06:03One example is when tiny algae organisms migrate near the seashores. When these algae are disturbed,
06:10they try to defend themselves by glowing and just happen to create the most beautiful spectacle.
06:16There's also a specific place in the world where you can see a similar phenomenon.
06:20It's in New Zealand. Hidden deep within the country's caves lie the so-called glowworms.
06:26They are the larval species of a fungus that happen to be luminescent. If you're lucky enough to tour
06:33around these caves, you'll feel like you're floating inside an underground galaxy. The sky can create
06:40lots of different cool phenomena, and this specific one is called a crown flash. If you were seeing it with
06:47your own eyes, you'd see a column of light jumping or dancing near the top of a cumulus nimbus cloud.
06:54Think of cumulus nimbus as massive, towering clouds that look like fluffy mountains.
07:00These are the clouds that usually announce thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain.
07:05Now, although you'd probably think crown flashes looked like some supernatural energetic door opening
07:13to the heavens, this is a very scientific phenomenon. It happens when sunlight reflects off tiny ice
07:19crystals inside the cloud. But here's the cool part. Those ice crystals aren't just floating around
07:25randomly. They're moving because of shifts in the cloud's electric field. As the field changes,
07:32the ice crystals realign, and the light they reflect moves too. That's why the crown flash looks like it's
07:39flickering or waving. Crown flashes don't happen all the time. You need a thundercloud with the right
07:44conditions, lots of sunlight, ice crystals, and a strong electric field. If you ever spot one, consider
07:52yourself lucky. It's like nature showing off a rare light trick. We usually see ever-burning hills in
07:59sci-fi movies. But this one is real. Located in the Arctic region of Canada, the so-called
08:05Smoking Hills is an unmatched site on our planet. And here, things get even a little science fictiony,
08:12since some minerals that exist in these hills were only ever found in a few places on our planet
08:18and outside it, like on the surface of Mars. The ground of Smoking Hills has been releasing smoke for
08:25at least a couple hundred years, nonstop. Explorers thought the area was home to an active volcano,
08:32but that was not the case. As science explains, the soil in the area is formed by sulfur and coal,
08:39and when they're in contact with oxygen, they spontaneously ignite, releasing constant smoke.
08:45I just warn you, don't be getting any touristic ideas. The environment is extremely hostile to human
08:52life, as the smoke is toxic, and its temperatures are dangerously high. Frankenstein, unreasonably cold
09:00weather, and tons of lava. What do these things have in common? They all trace their origins back to
09:06Mount Tambora. This volcano in Indonesia had such a massive impact that the aftermath could be felt
09:13in Switzerland even a year later, and these spots are thousands of miles apart. Soon, we might be facing
09:20something similar again. Stick around, because I'm about to reveal the exact spot where the next eruption
09:26is expected to happen in 2025. Back in 1815, Mount Tambora erupted with unprecedented force,
09:36sending a colossal cloud of fine particles into the atmosphere. This cloud reflected sunlight,
09:42leading to global cooling, and even the year without a summer in 1816. Temperatures plummeted, crops failed,
09:51and families worldwide faced food shortages, compounded by various health issues. Fun fact,
09:58Frankenstein appeared because of abnormally cold weather in the summer of 1816. The author got stuck
10:05indoors in Switzerland and wrote this story to pass the time. But that is the only positive aftermath.
10:12In England and Ireland, people struggled to find food. The crops were too bad that year, and this
10:18year without summer cost them lives, all because of the eruption in Indonesia. While many other volcanoes
10:26have erupted since then, none have had consequences as dramatic as Tambora. However, climate professor
10:34Markus Stoffel from the University of Geneva believes potential serious eruptions aren't just a matter of luck,
10:40it's only a matter of time. So it's up to us. We can sit back and wait for the inevitable,
10:46or we can start
10:48preparing today. This future eruption will happen in a world that's vastly different from the one in 1815.
10:56Not only is our planet more densely populated now, but we've also experienced irreversible changes that affect our
11:03daily lives. Now, if you think volcanoes are always the bad guys, think again. They've actually played a
11:11crucial role in shaping our planet. They help with land formation, atmospheric development, and climate
11:17modulation. Just look at Yellowstone, for example. When thick lava ooze to the surface, it's spread across the
11:25landscape and transformed the area forever. When volcanoes blow their tops, they release a mix of lava,
11:32ash, and gases, including carbon dioxide. But don't worry. Compared to the emissions from fossil fuels,
11:39the amount from volcanoes is pretty tiny. What scientists are really keeping an eye on is sulfur dioxide,
11:46because it can have a big impact on our climate. When a major volcanic eruption happens, it can send
11:54sulfur dioxide soaring into the stratosphere, which is about seven miles up in the atmosphere.
12:01Once there, it transforms into tiny aerosol particles that scatter sunlight, helping to cool the planet.
12:08This cooling effect isn't immediate, though. Those particles can hang around for a couple of years,
12:14and even circulate all around the globe. Nowadays, we've got special equipment to monitor sulfur dioxide
12:21emissions from space. Take Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. During its eruption in 1991,
12:29it released around 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide. Now, while that's a lot, it wasn't quite as
12:36massive as the eruption of Tambora. Still, Pinatubo managed to lower global temperatures by about 0.5
12:43degrees Celsius for several years. Tambora, on the other hand, dropped average global temperatures by
12:49about one degree Fahrenheit. I know what you might be thinking. That's not much. But trust me, it makes
12:55a difference. If the planet warms up by just one degrees Fahrenheit, it could really mess with sea
13:01levels. Experts think we might see a rise of up to eight inches by the end of this
13:06century. This could wipe out a lot of farmland and coastal habitats, which would be a huge blow
13:12to many communities. So maybe a volcano eruption that can cool off the planet is like a natural
13:18mechanism helping us out? Not exactly. While it does cool the planet off, don't get tricked into
13:25thinking it's the kind of coolness our planet needs. Such temperature shifts can severely mess up with the
13:31crops, like they did in 1816. There's also evidence that major eruptions can disrupt rainfall patterns,
13:38leading to drier conditions in monsoon regions across Africa and Asia. You see, the summer monsoon
13:45relies on the temperature difference between land and ocean, which can be altered by volcanic activity.
13:52Interestingly, a warmer climate may enhance the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions.
13:58Experts explain that the formation and movement of aerosol particles depend on climate conditions.
14:05As global temperatures rise, faster air circulation can lead to smaller aerosol particles,
14:11which are more effective at scattering sunlight and thereby intensifying the cooling effect.
14:17Oceans also contribute to this dynamic. A warming ocean surface creates a stratified layer,
14:24hindering the mixing of warm and cold water, which could mean that volcanic eruptions primarily cool
14:30the upper ocean layer and the atmosphere above it, according to Stoffel. Moreover, climate change may
14:37influence volcanic systems directly. The melting of ice can trigger more eruptions by reducing the
14:43pressure that allows magma to ascend more easily. Additionally, increased rainfall associated with climate
14:50climate change can seep into the ground and interact with magma, potentially sparking eruptions.
14:56While the prospect of a cooling period due to a volcanic eruption might seem beneficial amid climate change,
15:04scientists warn that the effects could be dire. The immediate consequences could be severe,
15:11particularly for the estimated 800 million individuals residing near active volcanoes.
15:17A major eruption could devastate entire cities. For example, Campi Flegre, located near Naples,
15:25Italy, is showing signs of increased activity and threatens the lives of about 1 million people.
15:32Now, if you're from Oregon, beware, as experts say this state might experience volcano eruptions.
15:38Are you scared? Don't be. It's actually not as scary as it seems. Let me explain why.
15:45There are more than 80 volcanoes in Oregon, but we're not interested in a single one of them because
15:50it's an underwater volcano that is likely to erupt in 2025. Axial Seamount is the most active volcano in
15:59the Pacific Northwest, yet it remains largely unknown to the public due to its location approximately 300
16:06miles offshore and nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface. While its upcoming eruption is expected
16:13to pose no threat of a tsunami or significant land-based earthquakes because of its depth and
16:19distance from the Cascadia fault, the data gathered from studying its eruptions can enhance our monitoring
16:25of potentially more hazardous volcanoes. Let's call it a friendly eruption, shall we?
16:33In reality, predicting eruptions is a complex endeavor. We often encounter alarming headlines,
16:39such as, Yellowstone is about to erupt. Should we take these claims seriously? Not really. Yes,
16:47Yellowstone sits atop an active supervolcano that has experienced three major explosive eruptions
16:53in the past 2.1 million years. The last eruption occurred approximately 70,000 years ago, with the
17:00most significant explosion taking place around 631,000 years ago, forming the massive Yellowstone
17:07caldera. Naturally, many people are curious about whether Yellowstone will erupt again and when that might
17:14happen. Fortunately, scientists are employing new techniques to delve into these questions.
17:20A recent study suggests that Yellowstone is unlikely to experience another major eruption anytime soon.
17:27The reason is that the magma beneath the park is divided into a network of separate chambers.
17:33While there is a substantial amount of magma present, it's not sufficiently interconnected to support an
17:40eruption. Previous studies propose that the existence of a massive layer of magma beneath Yellowstone,
17:46but these latest findings changed that notion. To gain a clearer understanding of the subterranean dynamics,
17:53researchers utilized a technique called MagnetoTelurex, which employs Earth's natural electromagnetic fields
18:00rather than seismic waves. Since magma is a good conductor of electricity, this method is particularly
18:07effective for mapping molten rock and comprehending underground activity in volcanically active regions.
18:14By using MagnetoTelurex, scientists created a detailed map of the magma under Yellowstone,
18:21enabling them to make more informed predictions about future eruptions.
18:26But what will happen if an eruption similar to Mount Tambora occurs?
18:30By and large, there will be huge climate chaos. Yeah, the best scientists are looking for the solution should
18:37it really happen, but they don't have it yet. So technically, we're not ready for the second Mount Tambora.
18:44But for now, we're pretty much safe. No major eruptions are predicted.
18:48Whew!
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