How the Earth Works

Course Overview

This digitally remastered classic investigates Earth’s formation, natural forces, and how human activity has transformed our planet.

Course No. 1750

Journey through 4.6 billion years of Earth’s history in 48 lectures covering:

• Formation from the Big Bang to present
• Plate tectonics and continental movement
• Earthquakes, volcanoes and natural disasters
• Climate systems and hydrologic cycles
• Human impacts on geology and ecosystems

Discover how our dynamic planet functions – from its molten core to mountain ranges – and humanity’s growing role as a geologic force.

Key Topics Covered:

• Planetary formation and structure
• Plate tectonics theory
• Rock cycles and mineral composition
• Volcanic and seismic activity
• Climate change through time
• Energy resources and sustainability
• Human domination of geologic change

Video Lectures

01: Geology’s Impact on History (31 min)

Introduction to Earth’s dynamic history of moving continents and changing landscapes.

02: Geologic History—Dating the Earth (32 min)

How radioactivity revealed Earth’s absolute age after centuries of investigation.

03: Earth’s Structure—Journey to Earth’s Center (32 min)

Seismic wave analysis mapping Earth’s interior layers.

04: Earth’s Heat—Conduction and Convection (31 min)

Heat flow mechanisms from core to surface.

05: The Basics of Plate Tectonics (32 min)

Theory explaining continents, oceans, and geologic phenomena.

06: Making Matter—The Big Bang and Big Bangs (30 min)

Origin of elements from stellar evolution and supernovae.

07: Creating Earth—Recipe for a Planet (32 min)

Solar system formation and the giant impact that created the Moon.

08: The Rock Cycle—Matter in Motion (32 min)

Continuous transformation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

09: Minerals—The Building Blocks of Rocks (31 min)

Elemental composition of Earth’s crust and mantle.

10: Magma—The Building Mush of Rocks (32 min)

Magma generation at mid-ocean ridges through pressure release.

11: Crystallization—The Rock Cycle Starts (31 min)

Mineral formation as magma cools into igneous rock.

12: Volcanoes—Lava and Ash (32 min)

Volcanic types and their tectonic settings.

13: Folding—Bending Blocks, Flowing Rocks (32 min)

Rock deformation processes over geologic timescales.

14: Earthquakes—Examining Earth’s Faults (31 min)

Causes and effects of seismic activity worldwide.

15: Plate Tectonics—Why Continents Move (31 min)

Mantle convection driving slab pull and ridge push forces.

16: The Ocean Seafloor—Unseen Lands (31 min)

Diverse underwater features shaped by plate tectonics.

17: Rifts and Ridges—The Creation of Plates (32 min)

Ocean basin formation and the birth of new crust.

18: Transform Faults—Tears of a Crust (30 min)

Features like the San Andreas fault separating plates.

19: Subduction Zones—Recycling Oceans (31 min)

Where crust is destroyed, generating earthquakes and volcanoes.

20: Continents Collide and Mountains Are Made (32 min)

Himalayan formation from India-Asia collision.

21: Intraplate Volcanoes—Finding the Hot Spots (31 min)

Hawaiian Islands and other non-boundary volcanic systems.

22: Destruction from Volcanoes and Earthquakes (31 min)

Human impacts of major geologic disasters.

23: Predicting Natural Disasters (31 min)

Volcanic monitoring vs. earthquake unpredictability.

24: Anatomy of a Volcano—Mount St. Helens (31 min)

1980 eruption that devastated 600 square kilometers.

25: Anatomy of an Earthquake—Sumatra (30 min)

2004 quake and tsunami that killed 200,000.

26: History of Plate Motions—Where and Why (30 min)

Supercontinent cycles through geologic time.

27: Assembling North America (31 min)

Continental growth through collisions on both coasts.

28: The Sun-Driven Hydrologic Cycle (30 min)

Water’s role in erosion and landscape evolution.

29: Water on Earth—The Blue Planet (29 min)

Earth’s unique surface liquid water and its importance.

30: Earth’s Atmosphere—Air and Weather (30 min)

Structure and circulation of our nitrogen-oxygen envelope.

31: Erosion—Weathering and Land Removal (29 min)

Rapid Earth erosion compared to airless worlds.

32: Jungles and Deserts—Feast or Famine (31 min)

Atmospheric circulation controlling ecosystems.

33: Mass Wasting—Rocks Fall Downhill (30 min)

Landslide processes and sediment transport.

34: Streams—Shaping the Land (31 min)

River networks carrying mountains to sea.

35: Groundwater—The Invisible Reservoir (30 min)

Subsurface water exceeding surface supplies.

36: Shorelines—Factories of Sedimentary Rocks (31 min)

Wave energy creating coastal landforms.

37: Glaciers—The Power of Ice (30 min)

Most efficient erosional force on Earth.

38: Planetary Wobbles and the Last Ice Age (30 min)

Milankovitch cycles driving glacial periods.

39: Long-Term Climate Change (30 min)

Tectonic controls like Himalayan uplift cooling Earth.

40: Short-Term Climate Change (28 min)

Decadal variations from sunlight, oceans and volcanoes.

41: Climate Change and Human History (30 min)

Civilization’s development during stable interglacial.

42: Plate Tectonics and Natural Resources (31 min)

Concentration of metals and fuels by geologic processes.

43: Nonrenewable Energy Sources (32 min)

Oil, gas, coal and nuclear power limitations.

44: Renewable Energy Sources (30 min)

Solar-derived alternatives for sustainable future.

45: Humans—Dominating Geologic Change (29 min)

Our rapid transformation of Earth’s systems.

46: History of Life—Complexity and Diversity (32 min)

3.85 billion years of biological evolution.

47: The Solar System—Earth’s Neighborhood (32 min)

Comparative planetology of geologic processes.

48: The Lonely Planet—Fermi’s Paradox (35 min)

Rarity of Earth’s life-supporting conditions.