BBC - Earth: The Power of the Planet (2007) Part 2 Atmosphere

“Earth: The Power of the Planet” highlights the major events which have shaped the Earth's history and allowed life to flourish. Presented by Dr Iain Stewart, each episode will reveal a different force critical to the development of Earth including volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice. The series follows Dr Stewart's personal journey to some of the most remote places on the planet, from abseiling down into a lava lake in Ethiopia to cave diving in the underwater caverns left by the impact of the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs. He will discover how volcanoes saved the planet, how a rainstorm lasted for thousands of years, and how the Mediterranean Sea once dried up. Each individual film highlights the delicate balance of life on Earth, and how its incredible history has been the story of disaster and recovery.

Part 2: Atmosphere

The atmosphere is Earth’s protective layer, cloaking us in a warm, oxygen-rich embrace and shielding us from the cold hostility of space. It acts as a natural greenhouse, keeping the Earth 51 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be. Yet the atmosphere is also full of contradictions. It’s immensely powerful but at the same time highly sensitive. It’s destructive, yet it shelters us. It was created in part by the planet’s first organisms, and it continues to be essential for life.

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