"Weav[es] a dramatic story and the latest science with breathtaking aerial photography." Dr. Damian Nance, Editor, GSA Today

As Professor Nick Eyles of the University of Toronto Scarborough guides us along this geologic frontline, we discover the inevitable geologic journey of the Earth--a long-term shift that will see the Pacific Ocean crust destroyed and the surrounding land masses brought together.

The other titles in the series are:

Tectonic Europe - Examines the Earth's surface under pressure, from Iceland to the Alps, landscapes that inspired scientists to invent the study of geology.

Along The African Rift - Examines the East African Rift, Ethiopia's Afar Triangle, the Nile Valley and the Dead Sea Rift, places where the Earth's crust is ripping apart as molten rock pushes upwards.

The Western Pacific Rim - Examines the western Pacific Rim, home to 50% of the world's active volcanoes, and 90% of its earthquakes.

The Collision Zone: Asia - Examines the collision zone in Asia--from Indonesia's volcanoes at one end to the Himalayas at the other--which is in the process of forming the earth's next supercontinent.



Grade Level: 8-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 2012     Copyright Date: 2010
DVD ISBN: 1-93777-230-7

Reviews "Weaving a dramatic story and the latest science with breathtaking aerial photography, [The Pacific Rim: Americas] focuses on the destruction of oceans and the rise of mountains, and the earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions with which these violent processes are associated." Dr. Damian Nance, Professor of Geological Sciences, Ohio University, Editor, GSA Today "The photography is breathtaking and the science content is accurate...get ready to be amazed." Coralee Smith, NSTA Recommends "The Western Pacific Rim and The Pacific Rim: Americas are excellent for civics and history classes. Throughout history, individuals and society have lived with natural hazards to garner natural resources. The modern construct of plate tectonics rationally explains the occurrence of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes on the Pacific Rim along with mineral and agricultural bounty, access to the ocean, and picturesque scenery. The interviews in the series clearly illustrate how informed people address this trade-off. Both titles in the series can spark excellent discussion about the hazards and benefits of living along active plate boundaries." Dr. Norman Sleep, Professor of Geophysics, Stanford University, Author, Principles of Geophysics "Clear and accessible...The field locations [in The Pacific Rim: Americas] viewed from air and during field visits provide wonderful illustrations of underlying geologic dynamics, aided by historic footage of past earthquake effects. The few simple animated graphics interspersed with the film material help with explaining concepts that words and field geology can't quite bring across on their own. The film succeeds in bringing across the wide range of relevant scales of time and space of geology." Dr. Roland Burgmann, Chair and Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California-Berkeley "The Pacific Rim: Americas illustrates the tectonic processes from the glacier-carved mountainscapes in Alaska to the high Chilean desert. This long, convergent margin is marked by violent earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, reminding us of the vulnerability of small to very large coastal communities in the Americas. A growing record of past events demonstrates the imminent dangers awaiting these areas, but also the beautiful, sometimes eerily rugged landscapes that are created. This film is an engaging introduction to tectonic processes and the geology that shaped the western Americas." Ben van der Pluijm, Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Co-author, Earth Structure: An Introduction to Structural Geology and Tectonics