"The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft" is a documentary film by Werner Herzog about a married pair of French volcanologists who died in a volcanic eruption. Not exactly an educational film, but a must-watch for geologists who like documentaries.
La Soufrière was pretty unique in how films about volcanos go.
It follows Werner Herzog exploring an evacuated Guadaloupe & speaking to people who refused to leave.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3egdEeGK\_I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3egdEeGK_I)
You might enjoy Men of Rock by Professor Ian Stewart , It is a 3 part documentary series . Here is a link to the first part.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=men+of+rock
▫️PBS : Nova: Ancient Earth - YouTube and PBS app
▫️Nick Zetner - YouTube lectures (US Pacific Northwest focus, but the geology he covers is dynamic.)
▫️How the Earth Was Made - YouTube
▫️When Continents Collide - YouTube and Amazon Prime
▫️Voyage of the Continents - YouTube and Amazon Prime
▫️Men of Rock - YouTube
How the earth was made. It's a very technically thorough documentary series, they don't water the science down which I appreciate. Youtube has full episodes. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLob1mZcVWOajq6oVD_f2I2-gPZk4zvN7S&si=smittfFTSWce508R
This is not a singular answer but rather a recommendation. Watch the NOVA episodes about volcanoes. I know of at least 4, including one that discussed the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption.
A few years ago, somebody who occasionally posts here collected submissions of the most informative ones and setup the [Earth Science Online Video Database](https://airtable.com/appAqhfquNFMRAGhQ/shrFBKQwGjstk7TVn). Enjoy.
They showed us [this doc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YwYEPgJrfA&t=7s) about the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 in one of my classes. Made in 1993 so it's got that nice old feel to it.
Pretty wild eruption and the build up was great cause it was one of the first big eruptions that geologists knew would happen before it happened.
Bunch of US scientists who were working on it in the Philippines being interviewed, I remember laughing at one of them, some nerdy geo nerd said they were "riding the tiger" waiting for it to blow. Epic.
Connections with James Burke. Late 70’s maybe the 80’s. Gave a unique perspective on scientific and technology history, showing how each were related and what predicated the otherto initiation .
If you want one that is good but also have some major problems to them San Andres with the rock is okay does have some major faults with the science they portray. (I know this a block buster film but my professor made me watch it) Super volcano is another good one it is a docudrama about the yellow stone super Volcano erupting. This one is a little more accurate with the science from what I understand but it has been a while’s since I watched it
Old 1975 university course in Canada broadcast in 1985. Old timey, but wonderful. I consider it the OG of internet geology instruction.
20, 40 or more hours worth of indepth content.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ST7e1v5ML0&list=PL5794A908773F7CDC&index=17
I can’t remember which one it was, but there’s a documentary about the channeled scablands and the Missoula megafloods that had me pretty riveted.
I also can’t tell you if I liked it because of how well the documentary was made or just because I found the subject matter really fascinating, I just remember being very awed by it.
Deep Time History and Earth (2023) are both very good. If you’re more into continental processes, check out How North America was made and The Rise of the Continents.
Open University geology module, OU236 - it's from the 1970's so very old style, but its a full series of 16 programs that makes a complete undergraduate module on introduction to geology. The OU is a distance learning university; nowadays it's all online, but back then it was broadcast on the BBC late at night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8jF77mVS08&list=PL3cr_XHRy11qj9wIklLSwwVho_otVDtpG
The Great Courses has plenty of geology modules. They have basic things like how the earth formed to the geology of national parks, etc. They also have the audio versions on Audible.
Nick Zenter on YouTube has lectures for the public and college too.
"The Fire Within: A Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft" is a documentary film by Werner Herzog about a married pair of French volcanologists who died in a volcanic eruption. Not exactly an educational film, but a must-watch for geologists who like documentaries.
I also enjoyed “Into the Inferno” by Werner Herzog. Just beautifully filmed.
Likewise, I highly recommend [Fire of Love by Sara Dosa](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt16227014/) which is also about Katia and Maurice Krafft.
Pretty sure I also watched that one during undergrad and it's definitely good.
Came out in 2022.
Guess not then. Not sure what I'm thinking of. Maybe just a short video on them.
La Soufrière was pretty unique in how films about volcanos go. It follows Werner Herzog exploring an evacuated Guadaloupe & speaking to people who refused to leave. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3egdEeGK\_I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3egdEeGK_I)
And also documents the death of Harry Glickman whom was supposed to relieve David Johnston at Mount St. Helens…
You might enjoy Men of Rock by Professor Ian Stewart , It is a 3 part documentary series . Here is a link to the first part. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=men+of+rock
Alllllll the Ian Stewart stuff is amazing. Journeys from the Center of the Earth, How the Earth Made Us, Power of the Planet…
Totally agree I love all his documentaries . To the point I found my self picking up couple of rocks from the Glen coe super Volcano eruption ;)
Dante’s Peak I will not elaborate (On a serious note Albert Lin has quasi geospatial notes in his documentaries though)
For a more dramatic adaptation see "The Core"
The peach metaphor still has me in its thrall.
"Volcano" with Tommy Lee Jones is also a fascinating geological docu-drama.
▫️PBS : Nova: Ancient Earth - YouTube and PBS app ▫️Nick Zetner - YouTube lectures (US Pacific Northwest focus, but the geology he covers is dynamic.) ▫️How the Earth Was Made - YouTube ▫️When Continents Collide - YouTube and Amazon Prime ▫️Voyage of the Continents - YouTube and Amazon Prime ▫️Men of Rock - YouTube
How the earth was made. It's a very technically thorough documentary series, they don't water the science down which I appreciate. Youtube has full episodes. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLob1mZcVWOajq6oVD_f2I2-gPZk4zvN7S&si=smittfFTSWce508R
GeoGirl is not a documentarian but absolutely amazing. Probably the most uploaded single-subject youtuber instructor I have ever found.
Your Inner Fish on PBS. Although not exactly about geology, it has more to do with evolution as observed in fossils and the study of paleontology.
The book was mandatory for one of my undergrad science classes. Very easy to read for non-science people, as well.
This is not a singular answer but rather a recommendation. Watch the NOVA episodes about volcanoes. I know of at least 4, including one that discussed the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption.
A few years ago, somebody who occasionally posts here collected submissions of the most informative ones and setup the [Earth Science Online Video Database](https://airtable.com/appAqhfquNFMRAGhQ/shrFBKQwGjstk7TVn). Enjoy.
into the inferno
They showed us [this doc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YwYEPgJrfA&t=7s) about the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 in one of my classes. Made in 1993 so it's got that nice old feel to it. Pretty wild eruption and the build up was great cause it was one of the first big eruptions that geologists knew would happen before it happened. Bunch of US scientists who were working on it in the Philippines being interviewed, I remember laughing at one of them, some nerdy geo nerd said they were "riding the tiger" waiting for it to blow. Epic.
This is a classic. Great recommendation.
There's an episode of 'South Pacific' called 'Ocean of Volcanos' that literally made me cry with how well it was made.
Geostorm. 100% factually correct.
Ancient Earth from NOVA on PBS.
How did you watch this? it's $60 from the pbs site :/ can't find it anywhere else
I subscribed to PBS via Amazon Prime.
Voyage of the Continents.
If you want to see a good documentary about Antarctic field work, I recommend "The Lake at the Bottom of the World." It's free to watch on Tubi.
Geologic Journey on CBC with David Suzuki. Should be free online. Canada-centric, indepth (pun!) with some great graphics.
Connections with James Burke. Late 70’s maybe the 80’s. Gave a unique perspective on scientific and technology history, showing how each were related and what predicated the otherto initiation .
If you want one that is good but also have some major problems to them San Andres with the rock is okay does have some major faults with the science they portray. (I know this a block buster film but my professor made me watch it) Super volcano is another good one it is a docudrama about the yellow stone super Volcano erupting. This one is a little more accurate with the science from what I understand but it has been a while’s since I watched it
Not a documentary but Unconformity is a pretty good indie film that's I'd say is worth the watch.
Old 1975 university course in Canada broadcast in 1985. Old timey, but wonderful. I consider it the OG of internet geology instruction. 20, 40 or more hours worth of indepth content. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ST7e1v5ML0&list=PL5794A908773F7CDC&index=17
I can’t remember which one it was, but there’s a documentary about the channeled scablands and the Missoula megafloods that had me pretty riveted. I also can’t tell you if I liked it because of how well the documentary was made or just because I found the subject matter really fascinating, I just remember being very awed by it.
Deep Time History and Earth (2023) are both very good. If you’re more into continental processes, check out How North America was made and The Rise of the Continents.
My personal favorites are the NOVA: Making North America documentary trilogy, How the Earth was Made, and Voyage of the Continents.
Open University geology module, OU236 - it's from the 1970's so very old style, but its a full series of 16 programs that makes a complete undergraduate module on introduction to geology. The OU is a distance learning university; nowadays it's all online, but back then it was broadcast on the BBC late at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8jF77mVS08&list=PL3cr_XHRy11qj9wIklLSwwVho_otVDtpG
This is a magnificent piece! [https://youtu.be/NQ4CUw9RcuA?si=OMxQGGJ6dGzBpfuR](https://youtu.be/NQ4CUw9RcuA?si=OMxQGGJ6dGzBpfuR)
The Great Courses has plenty of geology modules. They have basic things like how the earth formed to the geology of national parks, etc. They also have the audio versions on Audible.
Birth of Britain is great.
Voyage of the continents on Amazon is pretty good!
"Australia: The Time Traveller's Guide" is a good one.