Horizon Season 2006 Episode 4 The Lost City of New Orleans

The Lost City of New Orleans is an episode from the 2006 season of the popular British documentary series Horizon. This episode delves into the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which left the city of New Orleans, Louisiana in ruins. Since the flooding caused by the hurricane submerged much of the city, it presented an unusual opportunity for scientists and geologists to study what lay beneath the water.

The episode starts by highlighting the city's unique geography. Lying below sea level, New Orleans has always been at greater risk of flooding, more so during hurricane season. Hurricane Katrina's damage caused much of the city to be submerged, and an initial rescue mission saw thousands of residents and tourists airlifted to safety.

However, the water didn't recede as quickly as expected. As a result, parts of the city remained under water for several weeks, which gave rise to the catastrophic situation where many homes were destroyed, and the number of deaths totaled in the thousands.

Despite much of the physical damage being visible, stranded cars were scattered throughout the area, and many buildings were destroyed beyond recognition. What was less apparent was the geological impact of the flooding. The episode examines how the water's movement over the land and the flooding had consequences beyond just physical destruction.

The episode goes on to explore how it was possible to create a model of the city's most significant geological features, such as the levees, the delta, and the soil composition, in three dimensions, using data gathered from satellites and laser scanning technology. Researchers captured data on the city's layout, the depth of the flood, and the flow of the water, which helped create an incredibly detailed underwater map.

With such advanced technology, the scientists could predict how the water had impacted different areas of the city, and they also provided some clues for the future. For instance, the model showed that the levees, which many residents had claimed were responsible for such extensive flooding, were not the cause. Instead, the evidence suggested that the city's historic layout, which had caused some areas to sink deeper into the soil, was to blame.

Throughout the episode, the viewer gets to see the staggering scale of the challenge facing the researchers: trying to piece together an accurate picture of events beyond the heavily damaged city. It's clear the researchers have been working tirelessly, day after day, to put all the pieces together.

The episode concludes by highlighting the importance of this discovery to the future of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. The geological findings enable a much deeper understanding of the events that led to the flooding, which will be hugely valuable in rebuilding the city's infrastructure and improving flood defenses.

Overall, The Lost City of New Orleans offers a comprehensive look into what happened following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, and how geologists were able to piece together the true extent of the catastrophe. With such extensive, detailed models, it's clear that the researchers' work was a labor of love, carried out to minimize the risk of a similar set of circumstances in the future. The episode provides a fascinating look into how science can help us understand the world around us and how it can lead to the development of better solutions for those in need.