Skyscrapers are symbols of big cities. But the mega earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 2016 proved that even earthquake-resilient high-rise buildings can shake greatly and suffer severe damage. The culprit is the long period seismic pulse, which is lurking in active faults throughout the world. Simulations of this motion showed that tall buildings shook 3 times more, causing them to tilt. This episode depicts the destructive power of the long period seismic pulse, and the latest counter measures to combat this threat.
Meteorologists around the world are concerned that accurate forecasting is becoming more and more difficult. The biggest reason for this is the rapid increase in the temperature of seawater triggered by global warming. This rise in temperature causes the flow of water vapor and winds to change, thereby allowing super typhoons to expand and increase in number. The accumulated data and the experiences at present are limited. The margin of error in forecasts for heavy rain and typhoons could end up making the resulting damage much worse. This episode introduces new scientific methods and technologies at the frontline of weather forecasting that could save lives.
