The American Museum of Natural History puts “Nature’s Fury: The Science of Natural Disasters” on display, starting today that reveals what drives the unpredictable phenomenon that affects our dynamic planet and the impact it has on our world.
Look no further than current events as real and timely reminders of nature’s power - whether it be Typhoon Nuri which spawned this November’s Polar Vortex or the stunning video and photographs of lava flowing on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Nature’s Fury brings to life four common natural phenomena as you travel through the exhibit: earthquakes (and the tsunami they create), volcanoes, tornados and lastly hurricanes.
(see and feel how fault lines shifted this rock)
Nature's Fury not only demontrates the raw power that these phemonma can create but also allows us to experience the stories of how people across the globe cope in the wake of tremendous natural events, the history and the current efforts that scientists are making today to help predict the unpredictable to reduce the impact these events have on our lives.
There are a number of opportunities to interact with stations, whether it's "building" your own volcano, touching and examining rocks, viewing videos and animations, and creating your own "earthquake" by jumping and measuring the impact on a seismometer.
One of the more awe inspiring opportunities are to stand in the eye of a roaring tornado, as captured on video by a conical shaped probe as a tornado passed over it.
Lastly, for those of us who experienced Hurricane Sandy in person nearly two years ago, the section dedicated to the sheer force of hurricanes is a poignant reminder of the sheer devistation that Mother Nature can cause.
A centerpiece of that portion of the exhibit is an interactive video table of New York City that allows visitors to explore why some parts of the city were particularly vulnerable to Hurricane Sandy’s storm surge in 2012 and how New York can mitigate the effects of future events.
The exhibit is both a reminder and a warning about the power that nature has, and is a great educational tool particulary for kids studying the the subject of hurricanes, tornados, volcanos and other natural disasters.
The exhibit comes to the American Museum of Natural History via the Field Museum in Chicago and has been enhanced to provide additional material. Nature's Fury is open starting this weekend through August 9, 2015. Entry is timed and is located in Gallery 3 on the third floor. Admittance is free for members and for an additional fee for non-members.
The Museum is open daily, 10 am–5:45 pm. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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