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Project Descriptions

Volcano: Lost City of Pompeii

August 1, 1997 - January 31, 1998 | Media and Technology
WGBH Educational Foundation will explore new ways to accurately depict in a large format film the eruption of a volcano that occurred in 79 AD. One means is to use footage of Montserrat, a similar volcano that currently is erupting. In order to do this, however, they must film the volcano in the immediate future while it is still erupting and the block and ash flow is still clearly visible. Once this is completed, WGBH will conduct various testing to address such questions as the following: * Can original footage shot in large format film be used to dramatize events of the past? * Can original footage of the ash eruptions on Montserrat be used in a composite with live action footage of Vesuvius today? * Can original footage of the plumes be used in a composite with a miniature model of Vesuvius? * Can the original footage be enhanced with computer graphics, or will it need to be "degraded" to create an historical sense?

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 9727843
Funding Amount: 50000

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Paula Apsell
    Principal Investigator
    WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Susanne Simpson
    Co-Principal Investigator
    WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Discipline: Geoscience and geography | History/policy/law
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Films and IMAX

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