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Volcanic eruption explained - Steven Anderson

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TEDEd Animation

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In February of 1942, Mexican farmer Dionisio Pulido thought he heard thunder coming from his cornfield. However, the sound wasn’t coming from the sky. The source was a large, smoking crack emitting gas and ejecting rocks, and would come to be known as the volcano Paricutin. Where do new volcanoes like this come from, and what triggers their unpredictable eruption? Steven Anderson investigates.

Volcanologists obviously want to keep people safe from volcanic eruptions. However, they are typically very hesitant to evacuate people too early even though they know there may still be a chance the volcano could erupt violently. Why don’t volcanologists “play it safe” and just evacuate everybody at the first signs of activity?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Steven Anderson
  • Director Odirlei Seixas, Felipe Grosso, Fábio Vianna (In Memorian)
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Felipe Grosso
  • Animator Sarah Zattar, Kelvin Lima, Renato Nogueira Cavalher
  • Art Director Victor Goularte
  • Sound Designer Júlio Muzzi - Astrolábio Studio
  • Music Júlio Muzzi - Astrolábio Studio
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal, Dan Kwartler
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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