Nova: Extreme Ice

Synopsis

This National Geographic programme from the US Nova television series follows acclaimed photojournalist James Balog and a scientific team as they deploy time-lapse cameras in risky, remote locations in the Arctic, Alaska and the Alps. Their goal is to create a unique photo archive of melting glaciers that could provide a key to understanding their runaway behaviour. The Extreme Ice Survey is the largest photographic study of the cryosphere ever attempted, deploying 25 time-lapse cameras on glaciers across the Northern Hemisphere in some of the coldest, most inhospitable places on earth. Teaming up with scientists in the field who are dissecting the complex mechanics of glaciers and ice sheets, Balog probes deep into the underworld of the ice - rappelling down into narrow crevasses and scaling vast ice canyons carved out by raging torrents of meltwater. Changes in the earth’s geology were once though to take thousands of years to play out, but Balog’s photographs are hard proof that these epochal transformations can happen right before our eyes.

DVD extras: Described video for the visually impaired; Materials and activities for educators and a link to the NOVA Web site

Series

Nova, Series

Language

English

Country

United States

Year of production

2009

Notes

Transcript available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-ice.html
Further information about the EIS is available at http://www.extremeicesurvey.org/

Subjects

Environmental science; Geology

Keywords

glaciers; global warming; photojournalism; time-lapse photography

Credits

Director

Noel Dockstader

Contributor

James Balog

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 1 NTSC

Price

$24.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

56 minutes

Year

2011

Production Company

Name

PBS

Web

http://www.pbs.org External site opens in new window

Sponsor

Name

National Geographic Television

Distributor

Name

PBS Shop

Web

http://www.shoppbs.org External site opens in new window