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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}(woman vocalizing)
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NARRATOR:
The Arctic.
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{\an1}Its vast frozen ocean
cools our planet
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{\an1}and impacts weather
around the globe.
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{\an1}But the Arctic is changing...
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{\an1}warming at least twice as fast
as the rest of the planet.
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{\an1}Exactly what's happening,
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and how it will
affect life on Earth,
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{\an1}has not been fully explored.
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00:00:50,571 --> 00:00:54,405
♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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But now,
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{\an1}a global team of scientists
is setting out
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{\an1}on the biggest polar expedition
ever attempted.
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♪ ♪
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MARKUS REX:
We have hundreds of people
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{\an1}from 37 different nationalities
on board.
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{\an1}It's a massive operation
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{\an1}on a scale that we have never
seen in the Arctic before.
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{\an1}(machine whirring)
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ALLISON FONG:
We're creating a benchmark
of measurements
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{\an1}that we may never be able
to repeat
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{\an1}in the future because there
won't
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{\an1}be sea ice for us to study.
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NARRATOR:
The plan is a world first:
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{\an1}to take a high-tech
research icebreaker
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{\an1}and freeze it into
the Central Arctic ice
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{\an1}for an entire year.
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MATTHEW SHUPE:
We're taking
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{\an1}a whole new level of
sophistication with us.
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{\an1}All right? Onboard the ship
will be instruments
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{\an1}that have never been installed
in the Central Arctic.
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NARRATOR:
Locked in place,
they'll explore
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every aspect of
the Central Arctic
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as never before,
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{\an1}through the constant darkness
of a polar winter
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{\an1}and some of the harshest
conditions on Earth.
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Their mission:
to investigate why the ice
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{\an1}is melting so fast
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{\an1}and help us better predict
how its rapid change
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{\an1}will impact the rest
of our planet.
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{\an1}It's about taking stock of what
we've done to the Earth...
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{\an1}...and what we can still do.
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{\an1}(women vocalizing)
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NARRATOR:
"Arctic Drift,"
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{\an1}right now, on "NOVA."
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}(birds squawking)
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
After more than ten years
of planning,
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{\an1}an international team
of scientists is heading north
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{\an1}on the journey of a lifetime.
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♪ ♪
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FONG:
This mission is the modern
climate science
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{\an1}equivalent of going to the moon.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}If you asked me if
I'd ever imagined myself
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{\an7}working in the Arctic, going to
polar bear safety training,
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{\an7}handling a rifle,
I would have laughed at you.
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{\an7}I would have been, like,
"You're crazy, there's no way!"
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{\an8}VISHNU NANDAN:
Coming from a place where
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{\an7}people have never seen snow
or ice
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{\an7}for the past thousands of years,
Arctic, for me,
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{\an8}is something out of this world.
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{\an1}The expedition will definitely
give us a new perspective
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{\an1}about the changes happening
in the Arctic environment.
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♪ ♪
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SHUPE:
Making scientific observations
in the Arctic is very difficult.
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{\an7}Relative to the rest
of the globe,
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{\an7}we have very few observations
of the Arctic system,
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{\an1}especially in the wintertime.
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{\an1}We're going into a frontier,
really.
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{\an1}I mean, the Arctic
is still a frontier.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
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{\an8}NARRATOR:
The mission, dubbed MOSAiC,
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{\an8}and led by
Germany's polar institute,
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{\an7}is heading deep into
the Arctic sea ice.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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{\an7}A place like nowhere else
on Earth.
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{\an7}A vast, frozen world floating
on a deep ocean.
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{\an7}It's thin and treacherous
in summer,
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{\an7}and almost impenetrable
in winter.
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{\an7}It means the Central Arctic
remains
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{\an7}one of the least understood
places on the planet.
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{\an8}But now, the team plans
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{\an1}to establish a cutting-edge
research camp
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{\an1}by allowing their icebreaker,
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{\an1}the Polarstern, to become frozen
into the ice itself.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
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{\an1}SHUPE:
This looks great, I think,
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as far as size.
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{\an1}We're going into the sea ice
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{\an1}to try to find an ice floe.
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An ice floe is
a discrete chunk of ice.
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{\an1}It's maybe a couple of
kilometers across.
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{\an1}Ideally, our floe will be
thick enough
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{\an1}so that it can support
all of our equipment
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{\an1}that we want to put out
on the ice.
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{\an1}And yeah, this stuff
that's right there
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{\an1}is the rotten layer
that's underneath...
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{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
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{\an1}SHUPE (voiceover):
And this will be our home
for the next year.
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{\an1}So this is really
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{\an1}a crucial moment in
our whole expedition.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
The success of the mission
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{\an1}depends on taking advantage
of a natural phenomenon.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}The plan is to hitch a ride on
the Transpolar Drift,
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{\an1}a constantly moving belt of
sea ice
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{\an1}that's driven by prevailing
winds and ocean currents.
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{\an1}If they freeze-in near Russia,
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{\an1}it should carry them for
hundreds of miles...
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{\an1}close to the North Pole,
then towards the Atlantic.
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SHUPE:
If we pick the right ice floe,
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{\an1}then we'll stay in the ice pack
for a full year.
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If we pick the wrong ice floe,
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{\an1}it might drift out to the ice
edge faster than we anticipated.
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{\an1}It might break up.
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{\an1}And so we're walking
a thin line here.
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{\an7}MAN (over radio):
So we are standing by.
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Copy that, I will take off now.
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{\an1}Okay, door's closed.
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♪ ♪
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NARRATOR:
The team has spotted
several potential ice floes.
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(radio chatter)
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{\an1}To find out if they're suitable,
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{\an1}they need to explore them
on foot.
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(drill whirring)
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{\an1}(Rex speaking German)
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{\an8}MAN (in German):
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{\an8}REX (voiceover):
Our dream would be an ice floe
that is
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{\an7}thicker than one meter 20.
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{\an7}Just a stable island of ice.
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{\an8}MAN (in German):
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{\an7}(speaking German):
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{\an8}NARRATOR:
The team searches for days.
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{\an8}REX (in German):
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NARRATOR:
But the ice floes are
all too thin.
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{\an7}They're running out of options.
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SHUPE:
This, this is interesting.
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{\an1}This whole area here looks...
somewhat...
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{\an1}REX: Yeah.
SHUPE: We'll look over here.
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See what we can find.
Yup.
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{\an8}NARRATOR:
Eventually, they spot a floe
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{\an7}that looks like it could
be thicker.
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{\an1}So it first goes out
50 meters that way,
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and then we go,
try to walk parallel
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{\an1}to Polarstern over there.
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SHUPE:
There are quite a few
potential hazards out there.
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{\an1}How thick is the ice?
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Is it stable?
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Is it safe?
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REX:
Matt, this is Markus,
Matt, this is Markus.
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{\an7}SHUPE (over radio):
Markus... Matt.
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{\an7}I think our, our thinnest ice
was 70 centimeters,
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{\an7}and we've seen some up
to multiple meters.
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{\an7}And there's quite an extensive
area of that thicker ice.
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{\an8}REX:
All right, Matt, thanks.
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{\an1}That sounds great.
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NARRATOR:
After days of uncertainty,
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{\an1}it's an enormous relief.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}They've found their ice floe.
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{\an1}Now, as the ice starts
to freeze around the ship...
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{\an1}...the real work can begin.
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{\an8}♪ ♪
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{\an1}(helicopter whirring)
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{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
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NARRATOR:
The team needs to unload
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{\an1}around a hundred tons of
equipment
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{\an1}and set up bases out on the ice.
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{\an1}With just days remaining
before the perpetual darkness
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{\an1}of Arctic winter arrives,
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{\an1}the pressure's on.
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FONG:
Every day, we're looking
out the window
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{\an1}and light is diminishing.
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{\an1}And it's a race against time.
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{\an1}(snowmobile running)
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NARRATOR:
The plan is to build
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{\an1}five research stations
they call ice cities
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{\an1}up to a half-mile from the ship.
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♪ ♪
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{\an1}The cities and their
cutting-edge equipment
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{\an1}will allow scientists to explore
every aspect
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00:11:00,771 --> 00:11:04,338
{\an1}of the Central Arctic
at the same time,
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00:11:04,371 --> 00:11:08,205
{\an1}and crucially, constantly
monitor how each piece
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{\an1}of this complex puzzle affects
all the others,
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00:11:12,471 --> 00:11:14,705
{\an1}from high in the atmosphere
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00:11:14,738 --> 00:11:18,105
to the ice and
the deep oceans beneath.
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00:11:19,505 --> 00:11:22,538
{\an7}A mile-and-a-half of data cables
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{\an7}and over three miles of
power lines
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{\an7}connect the cities to the
Polarstern.
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{\an7}Beyond is a network of more
distant science sites,
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00:11:33,405 --> 00:11:37,338
{\an7}as well as almost 250
remote monitoring stations.
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00:11:37,371 --> 00:11:40,205
{\an7}The entire operation
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{\an7}stretches across an area
of around
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{\an7}two-and-a-half thousand
square miles.
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♪ ♪
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00:11:51,271 --> 00:11:56,238
(wind howling)
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{\an1}While the scientists work,
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{\an1}others keep watch.
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00:12:05,971 --> 00:12:09,938
{\an1}There's one thing
they're all concerned about.
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{\an1}(ship horn blows)
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{\an1}ESTHER HORVATH (voiceover):
I'm standing there on this
small hill at Met City,
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00:12:21,571 --> 00:12:25,038
{\an7}on my very first polar bear
guard duty.
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00:12:25,071 --> 00:12:28,171
{\an7}MAN (over radio):
Bridge, bridge...
pack your stuff together.
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00:12:28,205 --> 00:12:29,605
{\an7}You have to evacuate.
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00:12:29,638 --> 00:12:31,938
{\an1}HORVATH (voiceover):
Suddenly, I hear from the bridge
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00:12:31,971 --> 00:12:34,371
two polar bears
are approaching us.
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00:12:36,938 --> 00:12:41,038
{\an1}They are 1,000 meter away,
900 meter away,
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00:12:41,071 --> 00:12:45,538
{\an1}and we all have to go
back immediately.
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00:12:45,571 --> 00:12:49,371
{\an8}In that second,
I start to shout...
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{\an8}(in scene):
Stop doing what you're doing
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00:12:51,071 --> 00:12:52,538
{\an7}and come to the Ski-Doo!
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00:12:53,671 --> 00:12:55,838
(voiceover):
Polar bears, if they are hungry,
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00:12:55,871 --> 00:12:57,338
{\an1}they would hunt for a person.
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♪ ♪
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00:13:00,371 --> 00:13:03,171
REX (voiceover):
These huge animals can reach
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00:13:03,205 --> 00:13:05,638
{\an1}speeds of 40 kilometers
per hour,
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00:13:05,671 --> 00:13:06,847
{\an1}and everybody has to have
that in mind.
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00:13:06,871 --> 00:13:08,805
{\an1}Once a polar bear is close,
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00:13:08,838 --> 00:13:13,105
{\an1}it can be at the person
in seconds.
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00:13:13,138 --> 00:13:16,271
{\an1}(ship horn blowing)
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00:13:16,305 --> 00:13:19,205
{\an1}HORVATH (voiceover):
I am the only person
who have a rifle,
230
00:13:19,238 --> 00:13:21,871
{\an1}and am I going to be able
to use it,
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00:13:21,905 --> 00:13:25,971
{\an1}protecting all the people
around me?
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00:13:26,005 --> 00:13:27,605
{\an1}And that's a lot of people
there.
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00:13:31,438 --> 00:13:33,014
{\an7}SHUPE (on radio):
Bridge, bridge... Matt.
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00:13:33,038 --> 00:13:34,605
{\an7}We are actually really
full here.
235
00:13:37,305 --> 00:13:39,671
{\an7}We are going to try to load
everybody on these.
236
00:13:39,705 --> 00:13:41,671
{\an7}It's going to be really full,
237
00:13:41,705 --> 00:13:43,614
{\an7}but we'll try to make it out
with what we have here.
238
00:13:43,638 --> 00:13:46,505
{\an1}(ship horn blowing)
239
00:13:46,538 --> 00:13:48,805
Guys, hurry up!
240
00:13:48,838 --> 00:13:51,038
{\an1}HORVATH (voiceover):
In my mind, I don't care
241
00:13:51,071 --> 00:13:55,171
{\an1}how small the sleds are...
Everybody has to fit.
242
00:13:55,205 --> 00:13:58,738
{\an1}We all have to go back now.
243
00:13:58,771 --> 00:14:01,305
♪ ♪
244
00:14:09,271 --> 00:14:14,771
♪ ♪
245
00:14:17,671 --> 00:14:20,305
{\an7}As we all got on board...
246
00:14:20,338 --> 00:14:22,314
{\an7}GAUTE (over radio):
Bridge, bridge, this is Gaute,
over.
247
00:14:22,338 --> 00:14:25,205
{\an7}HORVATH (voiceover):
That was when I saw them.
248
00:14:27,605 --> 00:14:29,371
{\an7}MAN (over radio):
This is bridge.
249
00:14:29,405 --> 00:14:32,271
{\an8}GAUTE:
Polar bear are
at a hundred meters.
250
00:14:35,971 --> 00:14:37,314
{\an8}MAN:
I will inform you when you have
251
00:14:37,338 --> 00:14:39,605
{\an7}the shot with the flare guns,
yeah?
252
00:14:39,638 --> 00:14:41,071
{\an8}Where is Trude?
253
00:14:41,105 --> 00:14:44,238
{\an7}She is right next to me.
254
00:14:44,271 --> 00:14:46,205
{\an7}The main goal is to have
everyone safe
255
00:14:46,238 --> 00:14:49,105
{\an8}and then scare
the polar bears away.
256
00:14:51,571 --> 00:14:54,105
{\an7}We are invading their space.
257
00:14:55,638 --> 00:14:58,005
{\an8}(flares popping)
258
00:14:58,038 --> 00:14:59,738
{\an1}I don't want to harm them.
259
00:14:59,771 --> 00:15:02,371
(flares popping)
260
00:15:02,405 --> 00:15:04,571
So it is
261
00:15:04,605 --> 00:15:06,938
{\an1}so nice when they understand
262
00:15:06,971 --> 00:15:10,871
{\an1}that we are making too much
noise for them.
263
00:15:15,638 --> 00:15:19,571
{\an8}(wind howling)
264
00:15:23,238 --> 00:15:27,505
NARRATOR:
The darkness
of Arctic winter arrives.
265
00:15:31,105 --> 00:15:32,938
{\an1}The team will not see
the sun again
266
00:15:32,971 --> 00:15:36,138
{\an1}for almost five months.
267
00:15:36,171 --> 00:15:42,871
♪ ♪
268
00:15:51,105 --> 00:15:52,538
{\an1}(camera shutter clicks)
269
00:15:52,571 --> 00:15:58,171
HORVATH:
It's an incredible experience
to live, exist, and work here
270
00:15:58,205 --> 00:16:00,805
{\an1}in the wintertime.
271
00:16:03,138 --> 00:16:04,105
(shutter clicks)
272
00:16:04,138 --> 00:16:07,738
{\an1}(shutter clicking)
273
00:16:07,771 --> 00:16:10,338
It looks unreal.
274
00:16:12,338 --> 00:16:14,271
♪ ♪
275
00:16:14,305 --> 00:16:17,071
{\an1}It feels like we are somewhere
276
00:16:17,105 --> 00:16:19,505
{\an1}else in the universe,
this is not the Earth,
277
00:16:19,538 --> 00:16:22,238
{\an1}this is something
completely different.
278
00:16:22,271 --> 00:16:27,205
♪ ♪
279
00:16:30,505 --> 00:16:31,805
FONG:
The darkness?
280
00:16:31,838 --> 00:16:35,738
{\an1}Working in the dark
for months on end,
281
00:16:35,771 --> 00:16:38,871
not really being
able to see beyond
282
00:16:38,905 --> 00:16:40,371
{\an1}where your head lamp shines?
283
00:16:40,405 --> 00:16:43,405
That's scary.
284
00:16:43,438 --> 00:16:45,371
{\an7}Yeah, that's pretty scary.
285
00:16:45,405 --> 00:16:49,405
♪ ♪
286
00:16:52,905 --> 00:16:54,381
NARRATOR:
After three weeks on the ice,
287
00:16:54,405 --> 00:16:58,005
{\an1}one of the most complex
research camps,
288
00:16:58,038 --> 00:17:01,305
{\an1}Met City, is up and running.
289
00:17:01,338 --> 00:17:03,705
{\an1}All systems green.
290
00:17:03,738 --> 00:17:06,571
{\an1}The tower is alive today.
291
00:17:06,605 --> 00:17:11,738
{\an1}(people speaking on radio)
292
00:17:16,471 --> 00:17:20,005
{\an1}Our tower here is about
11 meters tall,
293
00:17:20,038 --> 00:17:24,738
{\an1}and this can tell us about the
turbulent exchange of heat,
294
00:17:24,771 --> 00:17:26,371
of energy,
295
00:17:26,405 --> 00:17:28,705
of moisture at the surface.
296
00:17:31,505 --> 00:17:33,338
NARRATOR:
Such detailed data
297
00:17:33,371 --> 00:17:36,038
has never been
captured year-round
298
00:17:36,071 --> 00:17:38,438
{\an1}in the Central Arctic before.
299
00:17:39,871 --> 00:17:42,071
SHUPE:
We need to understand what the
sea ice
300
00:17:42,105 --> 00:17:44,371
{\an1}is experiencing and how that
affects
301
00:17:44,405 --> 00:17:47,371
{\an1}the melting of the sea ice or
the freezing of the sea ice.
302
00:17:49,471 --> 00:17:51,171
The Arctic ice
303
00:17:51,205 --> 00:17:53,538
{\an1}is melting, it's retreating,
304
00:17:53,571 --> 00:17:56,971
{\an1}and we want to understand why
that ice is changing.
305
00:17:59,171 --> 00:18:03,638
NARRATOR:
Today, sea ice in the summertime
covers only half the area
306
00:18:03,671 --> 00:18:06,971
{\an1}it did just 40 years ago,
307
00:18:07,005 --> 00:18:10,305
{\an1}and the decline is accelerating.
308
00:18:10,338 --> 00:18:12,738
{\an1}Only some of the reasons
are known.
309
00:18:12,771 --> 00:18:17,205
♪ ♪
310
00:18:17,238 --> 00:18:21,005
SHUPE:
Decades ago, when there was more
extensive ice cover,
311
00:18:21,038 --> 00:18:23,171
{\an1}a lot of the sunlight that comes
in in the summertime
312
00:18:23,205 --> 00:18:26,071
{\an1}would just reflect back off that
really bright, white surface
313
00:18:26,105 --> 00:18:28,471
{\an1}and go back to space.
314
00:18:28,505 --> 00:18:32,538
{\an1}Now we have progressively less
and less sea ice,
315
00:18:32,571 --> 00:18:34,371
{\an1}and that exposes more ocean.
316
00:18:34,405 --> 00:18:35,938
{\an7}And that open ocean is dark.
317
00:18:35,971 --> 00:18:37,771
{\an7}It absorbs the sunlight,
318
00:18:37,805 --> 00:18:41,171
{\an7}and therefore warms up the ocean
and melts even more ice.
319
00:18:43,205 --> 00:18:45,638
NARRATOR:
This feedback loop is
a major reason
320
00:18:45,671 --> 00:18:47,805
{\an1}why the Arctic is now warming
321
00:18:47,838 --> 00:18:51,705
{\an1}at least twice as fast
as the rest of the planet.
322
00:18:51,738 --> 00:18:54,571
♪ ♪
323
00:18:54,605 --> 00:18:58,505
{\an1}But it's not the only factor.
324
00:18:58,538 --> 00:19:01,171
Already,
Met City is shedding new light
325
00:19:01,205 --> 00:19:05,805
{\an1}on another potentially powerful
warming influence.
326
00:19:05,838 --> 00:19:08,671
SHUPE:
Clouds are a big player
in the Arctic system,
327
00:19:08,705 --> 00:19:11,671
{\an1}as they are in the
whole global system.
328
00:19:11,705 --> 00:19:12,838
On the one hand,
329
00:19:12,871 --> 00:19:14,971
{\an1}they shade the surface
from the sun, right?
330
00:19:15,005 --> 00:19:16,238
{\an1}So they cool the surface.
331
00:19:16,271 --> 00:19:18,671
{\an1}On the other hand,
they serve as a blanket
332
00:19:18,705 --> 00:19:21,671
{\an1}and they trap the energy
at the Earth's surface.
333
00:19:21,705 --> 00:19:24,405
{\an1}And it gets really
interesting in the Arctic,
334
00:19:24,438 --> 00:19:27,605
{\an1}because during parts of the
year, there is no sun.
335
00:19:27,638 --> 00:19:30,771
It's dark for
four months straight.
336
00:19:30,805 --> 00:19:32,971
{\an1}And so the clouds are
only serving as a blanket.
337
00:19:33,005 --> 00:19:36,205
(wind howling)
338
00:19:36,238 --> 00:19:38,238
{\an1}What we're seeing is that
in polar winter,
339
00:19:38,271 --> 00:19:41,938
{\an1}there's actually a lot more
thick cloud than I expected.
340
00:19:41,971 --> 00:19:45,271
{\an1}It's slowing the winter
sea ice growth.
341
00:19:45,305 --> 00:19:48,071
{\an1}That means less ice going
into spring and summer,
342
00:19:48,105 --> 00:19:49,971
{\an1}which in turn makes it more
vulnerable
343
00:19:50,005 --> 00:19:51,538
{\an1}to the melting season.
344
00:19:54,305 --> 00:19:56,938
NARRATOR:
The clouds are one piece of
the complex puzzle
345
00:19:56,971 --> 00:20:00,671
{\an1}the expedition is trying
to put together.
346
00:20:00,705 --> 00:20:03,871
♪ ♪
347
00:20:03,905 --> 00:20:08,505
{\an1}Another is the hidden world
under the ice.
348
00:20:11,438 --> 00:20:14,805
FONG:
It doesn't look like much,
I mean, right, at the surface?
349
00:20:14,838 --> 00:20:17,371
{\an1}You're, like, it's just snow,
it's quiet.
350
00:20:19,805 --> 00:20:23,205
{\an1}But actually, below the ice,
there's a flurry of activity.
351
00:20:23,238 --> 00:20:29,205
{\an1}(chainsaw revving)
352
00:20:29,238 --> 00:20:32,271
{\an1}I'm used to making
lab experiments
353
00:20:32,305 --> 00:20:34,838
{\an1}with a pipetter and...
Delicate work.
354
00:20:34,871 --> 00:20:38,571
{\an7}(chainsaw revving)
355
00:20:38,605 --> 00:20:43,771
{\an1}And here I am with a
60-centimeter-long chainsaw.
356
00:20:43,805 --> 00:20:44,771
(chainsaw stops)
357
00:20:44,805 --> 00:20:47,905
{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
358
00:20:47,938 --> 00:20:52,238
♪ ♪
359
00:20:55,471 --> 00:20:58,038
{\an1}Some of the big outstanding
questions are,
360
00:20:58,071 --> 00:21:01,138
{\an1}what are the activities
of organisms in polar night?
361
00:21:01,171 --> 00:21:03,438
{\an1}From the Central Arctic,
362
00:21:03,471 --> 00:21:06,838
{\an1}there are basically
no measurements whatsoever.
363
00:21:06,871 --> 00:21:08,905
{\an1}So this would be the first
chance in history
364
00:21:08,938 --> 00:21:10,505
{\an1}for us to do that work.
365
00:21:10,538 --> 00:21:14,205
♪ ♪
366
00:21:14,238 --> 00:21:16,238
NARRATOR:
This device can collect
water samples
367
00:21:16,271 --> 00:21:17,971
{\an1}at specific depths,
368
00:21:18,005 --> 00:21:21,371
{\an1}down to just above the
ocean floor...
369
00:21:21,405 --> 00:21:23,605
{\an7}MAN (speaking German):
370
00:21:24,971 --> 00:21:29,071
NARRATOR:
two-and-a-half miles below.
371
00:21:29,105 --> 00:21:30,205
♪ ♪
372
00:21:30,238 --> 00:21:31,238
WOMAN:
What?
373
00:21:34,338 --> 00:21:36,505
FONG:
At this place in the world,
374
00:21:36,538 --> 00:21:38,271
{\an1}at this time of year,
375
00:21:38,305 --> 00:21:41,871
{\an1}there's never been data
like this.
376
00:21:41,905 --> 00:21:44,538
{\an1}And that's incredible,
and so every time
377
00:21:44,571 --> 00:21:46,305
{\an1}we put a piece of equipment out
378
00:21:46,338 --> 00:21:47,905
and we collect
a sample successfully,
379
00:21:47,938 --> 00:21:53,405
{\an1}we're the only people
that have been able to do it.
380
00:21:53,438 --> 00:21:58,238
FONG:
Okay, so Jien, you're done
for D.I.C. on one.
381
00:21:58,271 --> 00:22:01,371
{\an1}Uh, Haylun, that means you
can do salinity on number one.
382
00:22:03,871 --> 00:22:08,305
NARRATOR:
What they're finding
is a huge surprise.
383
00:22:08,338 --> 00:22:10,571
{\an1}FONG (voiceover):
I think winter in general
is thought of
384
00:22:10,605 --> 00:22:14,271
{\an1}as a time of hibernation
or low metabolic activity.
385
00:22:14,305 --> 00:22:15,905
{\an1}But what we're seeing is that
organisms
386
00:22:15,938 --> 00:22:18,505
{\an1}have adapted over millennia
to this,
387
00:22:18,538 --> 00:22:20,505
what we consider
an extreme environment.
388
00:22:20,538 --> 00:22:24,238
♪ ♪
389
00:22:24,271 --> 00:22:27,405
{\an1}In one milliliter of seawater,
390
00:22:27,438 --> 00:22:30,205
{\an1}which is basically,
like, a teaspoon of seawater,
391
00:22:30,238 --> 00:22:32,138
{\an1}are one million bacterial cells.
392
00:22:32,171 --> 00:22:37,805
And from there,
the diversity is extraordinary.
393
00:22:39,238 --> 00:22:43,205
NARRATOR:
The team finds
that phytoplankton,
394
00:22:43,238 --> 00:22:46,371
{\an1}plant-like organisms that rely
on the sun for their energy,
395
00:22:46,405 --> 00:22:49,705
{\an1}are still present in winter,
primed and ready for spring.
396
00:22:51,538 --> 00:22:54,538
{\an1}They also discover tiny
zooplankton in their thousands...
397
00:22:54,571 --> 00:22:59,305
{\an1}far more abundant
and active than they'd imagined.
398
00:22:59,338 --> 00:23:01,338
♪ ♪
399
00:23:01,371 --> 00:23:05,838
{\an1}This thriving ecosystem
is vital for our planet.
400
00:23:05,871 --> 00:23:10,071
{\an1}Globally, phytoplankton
produce around half the oxygen
401
00:23:10,105 --> 00:23:15,538
{\an1}we breathe and absorb
vast amounts of carbon dioxide,
402
00:23:15,571 --> 00:23:17,605
{\an1}while the zooplankton
that feed on them
403
00:23:17,638 --> 00:23:20,871
{\an1}help lock that carbon away
in the depths.
404
00:23:22,605 --> 00:23:24,471
{\an1}It's partly why the oceans
absorb
405
00:23:24,505 --> 00:23:27,238
{\an1}around a quarter of the
CO2 produced
406
00:23:27,271 --> 00:23:29,905
{\an1}by the burning of fossil fuels.
407
00:23:29,938 --> 00:23:33,438
{\an1}For our climate, these tiny
creatures play
408
00:23:33,471 --> 00:23:35,705
a crucial role.
409
00:23:39,871 --> 00:23:42,905
FONG:
Given that the Arctic is
experiencing so much change,
410
00:23:42,938 --> 00:23:44,838
{\an1}we need to understand
what impact
411
00:23:44,871 --> 00:23:48,005
{\an1}reductions in sea ice
and global warming is having
412
00:23:48,038 --> 00:23:50,105
{\an1}on these organisms
and how these components
413
00:23:50,138 --> 00:23:51,805
{\an1}of the climate interact.
414
00:23:59,571 --> 00:24:03,005
NARRATOR:
Almost two months into
their yearlong mission,
415
00:24:03,038 --> 00:24:07,605
{\an1}the Transpolar Drift
has carried the Polarstern
416
00:24:07,638 --> 00:24:10,605
{\an1}over a hundred miles deeper
into the Arctic.
417
00:24:12,271 --> 00:24:14,205
{\an1}HOHLE (over radio):
Bridge, bridge, Trude.
418
00:24:14,238 --> 00:24:16,371
Trude, go ahead.
419
00:24:16,405 --> 00:24:17,571
HOHLE:
I'm in position, stern.
420
00:24:17,605 --> 00:24:19,605
Thank you, enjoy your watch.
421
00:24:23,371 --> 00:24:27,171
{\an1}(snowmobile engine humming)
422
00:24:27,205 --> 00:24:30,005
HOHLE:
Do we have a ladder here?
423
00:24:30,038 --> 00:24:33,638
{\an1}(wind howling, snow crunching)
424
00:24:37,038 --> 00:24:40,538
{\an1}(people speaking on radio)
425
00:24:40,571 --> 00:24:43,171
HOHLE:
(bleep).
Oh, my God.
426
00:24:43,205 --> 00:24:46,038
(ice rumbling)
427
00:24:46,071 --> 00:24:51,571
{\an1}The ice is moving a lot.
428
00:24:51,605 --> 00:24:54,705
{\an1}Bridge, bridge,
for your information,
429
00:24:54,738 --> 00:24:57,271
{\an1}the ice here has really started
to move.
430
00:24:57,305 --> 00:25:01,505
{\an7}We noticed by the sound and are
monitoring it now.
431
00:25:01,538 --> 00:25:07,038
{\an7}We managed to save the ladder,
which is now on our side.
432
00:25:07,071 --> 00:25:08,771
{\an1}(ice rumbling and creaking)
433
00:25:08,805 --> 00:25:10,238
HORVATH:
It's so loud.
434
00:25:10,271 --> 00:25:15,338
{\an1}It sounds like a,
an engine as it starts.
435
00:25:15,371 --> 00:25:19,305
(voiceover):
It is like an earthquake
under your feet,
436
00:25:19,338 --> 00:25:21,771
{\an1}but there is nowhere to run.
437
00:25:21,805 --> 00:25:25,071
You really feel
how fragile you are.
438
00:25:27,371 --> 00:25:30,105
{\an7}It's a frightening experience.
439
00:25:32,071 --> 00:25:33,381
HOHLE:
Let's hope we find a way over.
440
00:25:33,405 --> 00:25:35,205
(rumbling stops)
441
00:25:35,238 --> 00:25:36,671
{\an1}Oh, it's stopped.
442
00:25:36,705 --> 00:25:39,071
Bridge, bridge, Trude.
443
00:25:40,038 --> 00:25:41,571
{\an1}MAN (over radio):
Go ahead, Trude.
444
00:25:41,605 --> 00:25:42,938
HOHLE:
Ice has stopped moving
445
00:25:42,971 --> 00:25:47,271
{\an1}and it's completely silent here
in the Arctic again.
446
00:25:49,505 --> 00:25:51,871
SHUPE:
This is stress on the ice.
447
00:25:51,905 --> 00:25:53,971
{\an1}This is the winds
and the currents in the ocean
448
00:25:54,005 --> 00:25:56,105
{\an1}causing pressure in the ice, and
eventually,
449
00:25:56,138 --> 00:25:57,671
{\an1}the ice just lets go.
450
00:25:57,705 --> 00:25:59,505
{\an1}There's internal pressure
and it breaks.
451
00:25:59,538 --> 00:26:01,205
(radio chatter)
452
00:26:01,238 --> 00:26:03,638
(wind howling)
453
00:26:03,671 --> 00:26:07,005
NARRATOR:
And those stresses
are intensified
454
00:26:07,038 --> 00:26:09,638
{\an1}by the arrival of a violent
storm.
455
00:26:09,671 --> 00:26:13,205
(wind howling)
456
00:26:20,305 --> 00:26:22,971
{\an1}Cracks in the ice open up,
457
00:26:23,005 --> 00:26:28,338
some big enough
to wreck the entire base.
458
00:26:28,371 --> 00:26:31,438
{\an8}HANS HANOLD:
There is one crack behind
Met City.
459
00:26:32,305 --> 00:26:34,071
{\an7}We've lost the power, huh?
460
00:26:34,105 --> 00:26:36,671
{\an8}Yeah.
461
00:26:36,705 --> 00:26:38,971
SHUPE:
It's knocked out
our power supply.
462
00:26:39,005 --> 00:26:42,205
{\an1}It's taken down our measurements
at Met City.
463
00:26:42,238 --> 00:26:43,871
{\an1}We have to get back out there.
464
00:26:43,905 --> 00:26:46,538
{\an1}We have to get the power hooked
up again, so that we can
465
00:26:46,571 --> 00:26:48,171
{\an1}continue making our
measurements.
466
00:26:48,205 --> 00:26:51,638
{\an1}REX:
Goal of operation, really,
467
00:26:51,671 --> 00:26:53,338
is to rescue
468
00:26:53,371 --> 00:26:55,405
the cables so that we don't
469
00:26:55,438 --> 00:26:56,605
{\an1}lose them.
470
00:26:56,638 --> 00:26:57,971
WOMAN:
So we prepare the kayak?
471
00:26:58,005 --> 00:26:58,971
{\an3}REX:
Yep.
472
00:26:59,005 --> 00:27:01,105
{\an1}All right!
473
00:27:01,138 --> 00:27:03,738
(engine running)
474
00:27:03,771 --> 00:27:08,005
{\an8}(wind roaring)
475
00:27:10,405 --> 00:27:12,371
{\an8}WOMAN:
All good?
Yeah.
476
00:27:12,405 --> 00:27:13,405
{\an8}Team Kayak?
477
00:27:13,438 --> 00:27:14,471
{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
478
00:27:14,505 --> 00:27:16,505
NARRATOR:
The first thing they need to do
479
00:27:16,538 --> 00:27:18,138
{\an1}is find out if the cable
480
00:27:18,171 --> 00:27:21,205
{\an1}is still connected to the
ice cities.
481
00:27:21,238 --> 00:27:22,638
(wind roaring)
482
00:27:25,238 --> 00:27:26,205
{\an7}WOMAN (over radio):
All right,
483
00:27:26,238 --> 00:27:28,038
{\an7}the connectors have been
ripped off,
484
00:27:28,071 --> 00:27:31,005
{\an7}so the other half is probably
in the water.
485
00:27:31,038 --> 00:27:33,105
{\an7}We can't reach it,
we can't see it.
486
00:27:33,138 --> 00:27:34,218
{\an7}MAN (over radio):
Copy that.
487
00:27:36,338 --> 00:27:39,438
NARRATOR:
With the power cable hanging
deep into the ocean,
488
00:27:39,471 --> 00:27:40,871
{\an1}they'll need to retrieve it
489
00:27:40,905 --> 00:27:43,271
{\an1}by hauling it out with
a snowmobile.
490
00:27:43,305 --> 00:27:45,038
{\an1}HANOLD:
Slowly, slowly!
491
00:27:45,071 --> 00:27:47,705
Hey, stop, stop!
492
00:27:47,738 --> 00:27:51,071
{\an1}There is something else
hanging here.
493
00:27:51,105 --> 00:27:53,605
{\an1}(speaks inaudibly)
494
00:27:53,638 --> 00:27:55,071
Yeah.
495
00:27:55,105 --> 00:27:58,071
{\an1}(snowmobile engine revs)
496
00:28:05,105 --> 00:28:06,771
{\an1}Okay, we are very close.
497
00:28:10,238 --> 00:28:12,871
{\an1}Ah, this is the end.
498
00:28:12,905 --> 00:28:14,171
This is the end.
499
00:28:15,571 --> 00:28:17,471
(laughs)
500
00:28:17,505 --> 00:28:19,438
Well done, guys!
501
00:28:19,471 --> 00:28:21,338
Excellent.
502
00:28:23,938 --> 00:28:27,471
NARRATOR:
With the cable saved,
the team can restore power
503
00:28:27,505 --> 00:28:30,871
{\an1}to the ice cities
and get the science
504
00:28:30,905 --> 00:28:34,505
{\an1}back up and running.
505
00:28:39,638 --> 00:28:42,905
(wind howling)
506
00:28:49,371 --> 00:28:50,638
NANDAN:
I don't know if I am
507
00:28:50,671 --> 00:28:53,671
{\an1}the first Indian to walk on
frozen ocean waters,
508
00:28:53,705 --> 00:28:54,938
but, at least,
509
00:28:54,971 --> 00:28:58,105
{\an1}for this expedition,
I am the only Indian.
510
00:29:01,638 --> 00:29:04,638
{\an1}My name is Vishnu Nandan.
511
00:29:04,671 --> 00:29:07,738
♪ ♪
512
00:29:07,771 --> 00:29:09,738
{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
513
00:29:09,771 --> 00:29:11,147
Vishnu means
preserver of the planet,
514
00:29:11,171 --> 00:29:12,471
{\an1}and that's my goal.
515
00:29:12,505 --> 00:29:16,238
{\an1}I'm here to protect the planet.
516
00:29:16,271 --> 00:29:18,871
{\an1}To every, to protect everyone.
517
00:29:21,038 --> 00:29:22,638
Let's pull it across.
518
00:29:22,671 --> 00:29:24,538
We don't want to
block the way with this.
519
00:29:24,571 --> 00:29:26,405
{\an1}Okay, yeah, I mean,
520
00:29:26,438 --> 00:29:28,938
{\an1}we can at least
bring the cables this direction.
521
00:29:28,971 --> 00:29:31,547
{\an1}JULIENNE STROEVE (voiceover):
I've been going up to
the Arctic region
522
00:29:31,571 --> 00:29:35,605
{\an1}for almost 30 years now,
523
00:29:35,638 --> 00:29:37,871
{\an1}but it's always been
during daylight.
524
00:29:41,205 --> 00:29:42,805
{\an1}Doing it over winter,
525
00:29:42,838 --> 00:29:44,505
yeah, that's
a really unique experience
526
00:29:44,538 --> 00:29:45,914
{\an7}that many people,
even if you're a scientist
527
00:29:45,938 --> 00:29:47,038
{\an7}working in the Arctic,
528
00:29:47,071 --> 00:29:48,351
{\an8}you don't get
to experience that.
529
00:29:50,238 --> 00:29:54,271
{\an1}And honestly, you feel like
you're walking on the moon.
530
00:29:54,305 --> 00:29:57,271
{\an4}STROEVE:
That's amazing!
(radio chatter)
531
00:29:57,305 --> 00:30:00,605
{\an1}Hi, fox!
532
00:30:00,638 --> 00:30:02,038
{\an1}That is very cool.
533
00:30:02,071 --> 00:30:03,905
{\an1}My first polar fox.
534
00:30:03,938 --> 00:30:05,905
{\an1}That's exciting.
535
00:30:05,938 --> 00:30:07,805
{\an1}Yay.
536
00:30:07,838 --> 00:30:11,605
Okay, check if
my instrument's working now.
537
00:30:14,005 --> 00:30:18,738
NARRATOR:
Julienne and Vishnu are running
the Remote Sensing City.
538
00:30:18,771 --> 00:30:21,771
{\an1}They're here to answer
one of the most
539
00:30:21,805 --> 00:30:24,205
{\an1}fundamental questions of all:
540
00:30:24,238 --> 00:30:28,005
{\an1}Just how much ice
is in the Arctic Ocean?
541
00:30:28,038 --> 00:30:32,005
♪ ♪
542
00:30:32,038 --> 00:30:35,605
STROEVE:
We have over 40 years of
satellite measurements
543
00:30:35,638 --> 00:30:37,238
{\an1}telling us how much of
the Arctic Ocean
544
00:30:37,271 --> 00:30:38,705
{\an1}is covered by sea ice,
545
00:30:38,738 --> 00:30:40,438
{\an1}but what we've really lacked
546
00:30:40,471 --> 00:30:44,271
is knowing how thick the ice is.
547
00:30:44,305 --> 00:30:46,105
NARRATOR:
The problem is that satellites
548
00:30:46,138 --> 00:30:48,838
{\an1}can't differentiate
between the ice
549
00:30:48,871 --> 00:30:52,205
and what's
just snow on top of it.
550
00:30:52,238 --> 00:30:55,271
{\an1}By testing the same technology
at the surface,
551
00:30:55,305 --> 00:30:56,447
where they
can compare the results
552
00:30:56,471 --> 00:30:57,647
{\an1}against physical measurements,
553
00:30:57,671 --> 00:31:02,338
{\an1}they hope to revolutionize
our ability
554
00:31:02,371 --> 00:31:04,605
{\an1}to monitor sea ice from space.
555
00:31:07,638 --> 00:31:10,105
STROEVE:
It would allow us to
actually map not just
556
00:31:10,138 --> 00:31:11,505
{\an1}the spatial extent of the ice,
557
00:31:11,538 --> 00:31:15,538
{\an1}but the actual ice volume in
the Arctic every single day.
558
00:31:17,038 --> 00:31:19,738
NARRATOR:
As they begin to analyze
their results,
559
00:31:19,771 --> 00:31:22,705
it confirms what they suspected:
560
00:31:22,738 --> 00:31:28,705
{\an1}satellites have been vastly
overestimating ice thickness.
561
00:31:28,738 --> 00:31:31,038
{\an1}It will take time
to turn their data into new,
562
00:31:31,071 --> 00:31:35,405
{\an1}more accurate predictions,
but it's a major breakthrough.
563
00:31:35,438 --> 00:31:38,738
STROEVE:
Collecting the data
is really key,
564
00:31:38,771 --> 00:31:41,471
{\an1}and will hopefully help
the public and policymakers
565
00:31:41,505 --> 00:31:43,771
{\an1}understand how quickly
the Arctic is transforming
566
00:31:43,805 --> 00:31:48,805
{\an1}and that we need to do something
before it's too late.
567
00:31:48,838 --> 00:31:52,471
(wind howling)
568
00:32:00,438 --> 00:32:02,471
NARRATOR:
As a new year begins,
569
00:32:02,505 --> 00:32:05,538
{\an1}the team is less than 200 miles
from the North Pole.
570
00:32:05,571 --> 00:32:10,705
♪ ♪
571
00:32:10,738 --> 00:32:14,305
{\an1}They're due to receive
vital supplies, equipment,
572
00:32:14,338 --> 00:32:17,671
{\an1}and a new team of scientists
573
00:32:17,705 --> 00:32:22,738
{\an1}before the ice becomes
too thick to reach them.
574
00:32:22,771 --> 00:32:25,471
{\an1}But the Russian icebreaker
entrusted with the task
575
00:32:25,505 --> 00:32:29,971
{\an1}is hundreds of miles away,
struggling through thick ice.
576
00:32:49,705 --> 00:32:51,171
{\an1}(clicks mouse and key)
577
00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:55,871
AMY MACFARLANE:
As soon as the icebreaker
started to move through the ice,
578
00:32:55,905 --> 00:33:00,705
{\an7}I got the sense of how remote
the area we're going to is.
579
00:33:00,738 --> 00:33:01,981
{\an8}I mean,
we're traveling for weeks
580
00:33:02,005 --> 00:33:06,138
to get to this
miraculous haven in the north.
581
00:33:06,171 --> 00:33:09,205
(ice churning)
582
00:33:13,338 --> 00:33:16,671
NARRATOR:
No icebreaker has ever tried
to venture so far north
583
00:33:16,705 --> 00:33:20,205
{\an1}in the middle of winter before.
584
00:33:20,238 --> 00:33:23,305
{\an1}(ice churning, crunching)
585
00:33:25,271 --> 00:33:28,571
(metal clanging)
586
00:33:28,605 --> 00:33:31,838
(ship stops)
587
00:33:32,738 --> 00:33:37,405
{\an8}ALEXANDR ERPULEV
(speaking Russian):
588
00:33:44,071 --> 00:33:46,005
♪ ♪
589
00:33:46,038 --> 00:33:48,238
(ice churning)
590
00:34:00,371 --> 00:34:03,571
(metal clanging)
591
00:34:32,738 --> 00:34:35,938
{\an8}♪ ♪
592
00:34:37,538 --> 00:34:40,838
NARRATOR:
If the supply ship
has to turn back,
593
00:34:40,871 --> 00:34:45,105
{\an1}the team here could
be stranded for months,
594
00:34:45,138 --> 00:34:51,071
{\an1}and they'll be dangerously low
on fuel for heat and power.
595
00:34:52,671 --> 00:34:55,805
{\an7}It's affecting the morale of
the scientists onboard.
596
00:34:58,938 --> 00:35:01,905
{\an1}We are kind of stuck here.
597
00:35:01,938 --> 00:35:08,738
♪ ♪
598
00:35:08,771 --> 00:35:12,838
(wind howling)
599
00:35:19,805 --> 00:35:24,238
{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
600
00:35:24,271 --> 00:35:26,038
MAN (on radio):
There, there to the east.
601
00:35:26,071 --> 00:35:28,438
{\an1}Is that the Dranitsyn?
602
00:35:31,338 --> 00:35:34,971
{\an8}♪ ♪
603
00:35:35,005 --> 00:35:37,205
{\an8}NARRATOR:
After a grueling
monthlong journey,
604
00:35:37,238 --> 00:35:39,905
{\an1}and with the first signs of
sun returning,
605
00:35:39,938 --> 00:35:45,871
{\an1}the supply ship, Dranitsyn,
finally makes it.
606
00:35:45,905 --> 00:35:51,805
♪ ♪
607
00:35:51,838 --> 00:35:53,005
{\an1}(indistinct chatter)
608
00:35:53,038 --> 00:35:54,771
{\an1}Okay, team, we walk.
609
00:35:54,805 --> 00:35:57,705
{\an1}And we follow them.
610
00:36:04,105 --> 00:36:05,305
MACFARLANE:
At one point,
611
00:36:05,338 --> 00:36:06,671
{\an1}I didn't think we'd be here.
612
00:36:06,705 --> 00:36:09,205
{\an1}But it's happened.
613
00:36:11,138 --> 00:36:12,171
It's incredible.
614
00:36:12,205 --> 00:36:15,771
{\an8}♪ ♪
615
00:36:20,305 --> 00:36:24,205
NARRATOR:
With the new scientists
and supplies on board,
616
00:36:24,238 --> 00:36:26,705
{\an1}the mission is back on track.
617
00:36:26,738 --> 00:36:31,871
♪ ♪
618
00:36:41,438 --> 00:36:44,138
(wind howling)
619
00:36:51,371 --> 00:36:56,738
♪ ♪
620
00:37:01,738 --> 00:37:03,838
NARRATOR:
As the sun returns,
621
00:37:03,871 --> 00:37:08,405
{\an1}the Arctic begins
to transform once again.
622
00:37:08,438 --> 00:37:09,538
{\an1}For the scientists,
623
00:37:09,571 --> 00:37:12,538
{\an1}it brings a whole new world
to explore.
624
00:37:19,605 --> 00:37:23,205
♪ ♪
625
00:37:23,238 --> 00:37:25,805
{\an1}Welcome to the office.
626
00:37:28,738 --> 00:37:32,838
♪ ♪
627
00:37:34,671 --> 00:37:39,405
MACFARLANE:
For me, snow tells a story.
628
00:37:39,438 --> 00:37:43,005
{\an7}We're trying to understand,
in this scale,
629
00:37:43,038 --> 00:37:44,838
{\an1}how it's changing,
and eventually link it
630
00:37:44,871 --> 00:37:46,805
to the whole of
the Arctic snowpack.
631
00:37:48,605 --> 00:37:50,871
We start
one snowflake at a time.
632
00:37:50,905 --> 00:37:54,438
♪ ♪
633
00:37:58,771 --> 00:38:02,271
{\an7}So at the surface today,
we have -20 degrees.
634
00:38:02,305 --> 00:38:04,838
{\an8}But then just
17 centimeters below,
635
00:38:04,871 --> 00:38:07,838
{\an7}we have minus nine degrees.
636
00:38:07,871 --> 00:38:10,705
{\an8}So it has
a really big influence.
637
00:38:10,738 --> 00:38:12,805
(sniffs):
Oh!
638
00:38:12,838 --> 00:38:18,738
NARRATOR:
The snow here is acting as
a major insulator,
639
00:38:18,771 --> 00:38:20,705
{\an1}trapping heat from
the warm ocean in the ice
640
00:38:20,738 --> 00:38:24,038
{\an1}and slowing its escape
to the atmosphere.
641
00:38:24,071 --> 00:38:27,938
{\an1}With scientists predicting
that a warming Arctic
642
00:38:27,971 --> 00:38:33,005
{\an1}will see more precipitation,
which means more snowfall,
643
00:38:33,038 --> 00:38:35,938
{\an1}understanding why it's
having such a dramatic effect
644
00:38:35,971 --> 00:38:37,805
is crucial.
645
00:38:37,838 --> 00:38:40,371
{\an1}Using a CT scanner,
646
00:38:40,405 --> 00:38:43,605
{\an1}the team can study
the structure of Arctic snow
647
00:38:43,638 --> 00:38:45,305
{\an1}in minute detail.
648
00:38:45,338 --> 00:38:47,205
MACFARLANE:
So, at the top,
649
00:38:47,238 --> 00:38:49,081
{\an1}these are all really compact
and tightly together.
650
00:38:49,105 --> 00:38:51,638
And then
as you move further down,
651
00:38:51,671 --> 00:38:54,938
{\an1}you come across these
large crystals.
652
00:38:54,971 --> 00:38:59,771
{\an1}I've never seen these
crystals quite so big before.
653
00:38:59,805 --> 00:39:02,305
You can start
to see more and more air.
654
00:39:02,338 --> 00:39:03,705
{\an1}The blue would be an air gap.
655
00:39:03,738 --> 00:39:06,738
♪ ♪
656
00:39:08,338 --> 00:39:11,538
NARRATOR:
The scans reveal how during
winter and early spring,
657
00:39:11,571 --> 00:39:13,571
{\an1}large crystals in the snow
658
00:39:13,605 --> 00:39:17,871
trap more air,
keeping the ice warm
659
00:39:17,905 --> 00:39:19,938
and inhibiting
the growth of new ice.
660
00:39:19,971 --> 00:39:21,805
{\an1}This may seem strange,
661
00:39:21,838 --> 00:39:26,505
{\an1}but under certain conditions,
more snow can mean less sea ice.
662
00:39:32,105 --> 00:39:35,471
{\an1}The Arctic is now in
full transition.
663
00:39:35,505 --> 00:39:38,138
{\an1}With just over two weeks
between first sunrise
664
00:39:38,171 --> 00:39:39,471
{\an1}and 24-hour daylight,
665
00:39:39,505 --> 00:39:41,871
every day
there's more opportunity
666
00:39:41,905 --> 00:39:45,805
for one team
to take to the skies.
667
00:39:45,838 --> 00:39:46,914
JOHN CASSANO:
Let's do this.
668
00:39:46,938 --> 00:39:47,971
GINA JOZEF:
Let's do it!
669
00:39:48,005 --> 00:39:51,271
{\an1}Three, two, one, go!
670
00:39:51,305 --> 00:39:52,805
(whirring)
671
00:39:52,838 --> 00:39:53,871
Hell, yeah!
672
00:39:54,971 --> 00:39:56,071
Whooo!
673
00:39:56,105 --> 00:39:57,871
{\an8}CASSANO:
Way to go, team drone.
674
00:39:57,905 --> 00:39:59,471
{\an7}JOZEF (laughing):
We did it, whooo!
675
00:39:59,505 --> 00:40:02,171
{\an1}First flight, success!
676
00:40:06,105 --> 00:40:08,205
CASSANO:
The plane will spiral up
677
00:40:08,238 --> 00:40:10,338
{\an7}from near the surface
up to 1,000 meters.
678
00:40:10,371 --> 00:40:13,938
{\an7}And we're measuring
the state of the atmosphere,
679
00:40:13,971 --> 00:40:19,171
{\an1}so that's the temperature,
pressure, humidity, and wind.
680
00:40:19,205 --> 00:40:21,405
{\an1}It is flying really well.
681
00:40:21,438 --> 00:40:23,505
I am so happy.
682
00:40:24,738 --> 00:40:28,471
NARRATOR:
And right away,
there are exciting findings.
683
00:40:30,071 --> 00:40:31,671
JOZEF:
Here we have a plot of
684
00:40:31,705 --> 00:40:33,938
{\an4}the temperature,
and the wind speed.
Yeah.
685
00:40:33,971 --> 00:40:35,614
{\an7}And you can see that we have
a really strong inversion
686
00:40:35,638 --> 00:40:39,038
{\an8}in the temperature around 200
687
00:40:39,071 --> 00:40:40,505
{\an7}to 300 meters, or...
688
00:40:40,538 --> 00:40:41,838
CASSANO:
The first flight we did
689
00:40:41,871 --> 00:40:44,905
{\an1}had this real sharp
temperature inversion,
690
00:40:44,938 --> 00:40:46,705
{\an1}where the temperature
increases with height.
691
00:40:46,738 --> 00:40:47,781
{\an1}It's the opposite
of what we normally see
692
00:40:47,805 --> 00:40:50,105
where we live.
693
00:40:50,138 --> 00:40:53,305
NARRATOR:
This phenomenon,
characteristic of the poles,
694
00:40:53,338 --> 00:40:58,771
{\an1}is caused by the icy surface
cooling the air just above it.
695
00:40:58,805 --> 00:41:00,505
CASSANO:
What's interesting to me is that
696
00:41:00,538 --> 00:41:02,838
{\an1}the temperature inversions
are often associated with
697
00:41:02,871 --> 00:41:06,571
{\an1}this core of really fast winds
right near
698
00:41:06,605 --> 00:41:08,371
{\an7}the surface of the Earth,
699
00:41:08,405 --> 00:41:11,605
{\an8}where sea ice or ocean or snow
700
00:41:11,638 --> 00:41:15,838
{\an7}exchange energy and moisture
and different gases.
701
00:41:15,871 --> 00:41:19,505
{\an7}And so the wind is really a
critical part of understanding
702
00:41:19,538 --> 00:41:21,938
{\an7}how the atmosphere is coupled
703
00:41:21,971 --> 00:41:27,271
{\an7}to these other parts of the
climate system.
704
00:41:27,305 --> 00:41:29,505
{\an8}NARRATOR
Along with these crucial
surface winds,
705
00:41:29,538 --> 00:41:32,438
{\an7}there are other polar winds,
much higher,
706
00:41:32,471 --> 00:41:34,838
{\an7}that have a powerful effect
on the climate
707
00:41:34,871 --> 00:41:37,205
{\an7}far beyond the Arctic.
708
00:41:40,138 --> 00:41:43,338
{\an1}The jet stream is
a band of high-altitude wind
709
00:41:43,371 --> 00:41:47,971
{\an1}that whistles around our planet
at over 100 miles an hour,
710
00:41:48,005 --> 00:41:53,005
{\an1}influencing much of the weather
in the Northern Hemisphere.
711
00:41:53,038 --> 00:41:54,938
It's driven by
the temperature difference
712
00:41:54,971 --> 00:41:59,738
{\an1}between the warm Equator
and cold Arctic.
713
00:41:59,771 --> 00:42:02,905
{\an1}Many scientists think
the faster-warming Arctic
714
00:42:02,938 --> 00:42:04,638
may be weakening the jet stream,
715
00:42:04,671 --> 00:42:07,938
{\an1}causing it to become unstable.
716
00:42:07,971 --> 00:42:11,071
{\an1}It's a controversial theory,
but if true,
717
00:42:11,105 --> 00:42:14,738
it could have
catastrophic results.
718
00:42:14,771 --> 00:42:18,338
{\an1}Cold air is able to escape
out of the Arctic
719
00:42:18,371 --> 00:42:21,071
{\an1}and cover parts of Europe
or North America
720
00:42:21,105 --> 00:42:24,538
and give us
really cold winter weather.
721
00:42:24,571 --> 00:42:26,371
{\an1}Or if the jet stream
pushes very far north,
722
00:42:26,405 --> 00:42:30,605
{\an1}and you get these intrusions
of warm air up into the Arctic.
723
00:42:30,638 --> 00:42:33,538
{\an1}(thunder rumbling)
724
00:42:33,571 --> 00:42:36,971
NARRATOR:
The weaker jet stream might also
be causing weather patterns
725
00:42:37,005 --> 00:42:40,638
{\an1}to get stuck over
the same area for longer,
726
00:42:40,671 --> 00:42:45,071
prolonging droughts and floods.
727
00:42:45,105 --> 00:42:47,438
CASSANO:
It impacts everything we do.
728
00:42:47,471 --> 00:42:49,838
{\an1}It impacts farmers
and where they can grow crops,
729
00:42:49,871 --> 00:42:51,238
{\an1}where rain falls,
730
00:42:51,271 --> 00:42:54,305
{\an1}how often droughts occur,
how often heat waves occur,
731
00:42:54,338 --> 00:42:55,638
{\an1}how often blizzards occur...
732
00:42:55,671 --> 00:43:00,571
{\an1}I mean, all of the weather
that we experience.
733
00:43:00,605 --> 00:43:02,971
NARRATOR:
In addition to altering
734
00:43:03,005 --> 00:43:05,905
weather patterns
in the Northern Hemisphere,
735
00:43:05,938 --> 00:43:07,671
{\an1}the warming Arctic
736
00:43:07,705 --> 00:43:09,738
{\an1}is also speeding up
global warming,
737
00:43:09,771 --> 00:43:11,905
{\an1}which will affect
weather everywhere.
738
00:43:13,805 --> 00:43:16,771
{\an1}And as ice on land
also melts faster,
739
00:43:16,805 --> 00:43:21,971
it accelerates
global sea level rise.
740
00:43:22,005 --> 00:43:26,971
{\an1}What happens in the
Arctic affects us all.
741
00:43:27,005 --> 00:43:28,081
CASSANO:
The Arctic is far away.
742
00:43:28,105 --> 00:43:29,371
You know, 'cause you think,
743
00:43:29,405 --> 00:43:30,738
{\an1}"Oh, it's so far away,
who cares?"
744
00:43:30,771 --> 00:43:32,671
{\an1}But it has such a critical
impact
745
00:43:32,705 --> 00:43:36,205
{\an1}on the, the global environment
746
00:43:36,238 --> 00:43:37,938
{\an1}that we all have to care.
747
00:43:39,805 --> 00:43:45,705
♪ ♪
748
00:43:45,738 --> 00:43:47,371
NARRATOR:
Six months in,
749
00:43:47,405 --> 00:43:50,071
{\an1}the Transpolar Drift
is carrying the Polarstern
750
00:43:50,105 --> 00:43:54,271
{\an1}and its ice cities
around eight miles each day,
751
00:43:54,305 --> 00:43:57,871
{\an1}as the rest of the world
752
00:43:57,905 --> 00:43:59,738
{\an1}faces a pandemic.
753
00:43:59,771 --> 00:44:01,705
BORIS JOHNSON:
The coronavirus is
754
00:44:01,738 --> 00:44:03,938
{\an1}the biggest threat this country
has faced for decades.
755
00:44:03,971 --> 00:44:05,214
{\an1}All over the world,
we are seeing
756
00:44:05,238 --> 00:44:08,038
{\an1}the devastating impact of
this invisible killer.
757
00:44:08,071 --> 00:44:10,871
♪ ♪
758
00:44:10,905 --> 00:44:12,638
NARRATOR:
The scientists may be
759
00:44:12,671 --> 00:44:15,138
more isolated
than anyone else on Earth,
760
00:44:15,171 --> 00:44:16,138
but as spring turns to summer,
761
00:44:16,171 --> 00:44:19,071
{\an1}they face their own challenges.
762
00:44:20,871 --> 00:44:24,605
The thinning ice
is increasingly treacherous.
763
00:44:26,438 --> 00:44:28,105
{\an1}Large cracks form,
764
00:44:28,138 --> 00:44:32,905
{\an1}and huge ridges of
colliding ice bury equipment.
765
00:44:32,938 --> 00:44:37,971
{\an1}Both are made worse by
violent storms.
766
00:44:38,005 --> 00:44:39,938
{\an1}And as they drift ever closer
767
00:44:39,971 --> 00:44:43,038
{\an1}towards the edge of
the ice pack,
768
00:44:43,071 --> 00:44:44,871
{\an1}the favored hunting ground
for bears,
769
00:44:44,905 --> 00:44:47,838
{\an5}their work is
constantly interrupted.
(clanging)
770
00:44:47,871 --> 00:44:48,871
(growling)
771
00:44:49,871 --> 00:44:53,838
{\an7}(ship horn blaring)
772
00:44:56,305 --> 00:44:58,538
{\an8}By mid-June, much of the Arctic
773
00:44:58,571 --> 00:45:01,938
{\an1}is in the grip of
a record-breaking heat wave.
774
00:45:01,971 --> 00:45:03,605
In July,
775
00:45:03,638 --> 00:45:05,571
{\an1}the ice is disappearing fast,
776
00:45:05,605 --> 00:45:08,105
{\an1}leading to the smallest area
of Arctic sea ice
777
00:45:08,138 --> 00:45:10,671
ever recorded
for this time of year.
778
00:45:12,571 --> 00:45:14,871
The question on everyone's mind
779
00:45:14,905 --> 00:45:17,038
is, how long
will their ice floe last?
780
00:45:24,038 --> 00:45:25,671
{\an1}MACFARLANE:
So this one, can you see it?
781
00:45:25,705 --> 00:45:27,014
{\an4}It's kind of...
WOMAN:
Ooh, yeah, yeah.
782
00:45:27,038 --> 00:45:29,438
{\an1}There's a few, like, lines.
783
00:45:29,471 --> 00:45:30,991
{\an1}This is undergoing melting.
Yes, I see.
784
00:45:33,171 --> 00:45:35,438
MACFARLANE:
The water in the snow,
785
00:45:35,471 --> 00:45:40,371
{\an1}it's just trickling down
and pooling on the ice.
786
00:45:40,405 --> 00:45:42,438
{\an1}And the ice starts to become,
we call it rotten.
787
00:45:44,505 --> 00:45:46,771
{\an1}The processes and changes
have been really quick,
788
00:45:46,805 --> 00:45:49,005
{\an1}a lot quicker than I, I thought
they were gonna be.
789
00:45:49,038 --> 00:45:51,838
{\an7}So, how long have we got?
790
00:45:51,871 --> 00:45:53,231
{\an8}(laughing):
That's a good question.
791
00:45:54,371 --> 00:45:57,105
(dripping)
792
00:45:59,605 --> 00:46:05,205
NARRATOR:
While the floe is becoming
increasingly fragile,
793
00:46:05,238 --> 00:46:08,738
{\an1}the thinner ice is also
moving faster than expected.
794
00:46:08,771 --> 00:46:11,305
{\an1}The team had hoped to stay
locked in until September,
795
00:46:11,338 --> 00:46:14,438
but by mid-July,
the Transpolar Drift
796
00:46:14,471 --> 00:46:18,571
{\an1}has already brought them
close to the ice edge,
797
00:46:18,605 --> 00:46:20,005
where the waves
of the open ocean
798
00:46:20,038 --> 00:46:21,571
{\an1}will finally destroy their floe.
799
00:46:21,605 --> 00:46:24,571
♪ ♪
800
00:46:24,605 --> 00:46:27,071
SHUPE:
It could be
801
00:46:27,105 --> 00:46:28,838
{\an7}a very dangerous situation,
802
00:46:28,871 --> 00:46:30,905
{\an7}where the ice floe
breaks into small pieces.
803
00:46:33,171 --> 00:46:34,171
{\an1}It could be any day now.
804
00:46:37,705 --> 00:46:39,071
FONG:
You know, sea ice,
805
00:46:39,105 --> 00:46:41,505
{\an1}it has a lifetime of its own,
806
00:46:41,538 --> 00:46:46,871
{\an1}and so we watched it grow
when we arrived,
807
00:46:46,905 --> 00:46:48,205
and now we're watching it decay.
808
00:46:48,238 --> 00:46:54,571
(dripping)
809
00:46:58,805 --> 00:47:03,838
{\an7}(woman vocalizing)
810
00:47:06,805 --> 00:47:08,838
{\an8}REX:
Good morning, everybody.
811
00:47:08,871 --> 00:47:11,471
{\an7}We are at a distance
of nine nautical miles
812
00:47:11,505 --> 00:47:14,638
{\an1}from the ice edge,
and that is the distance
813
00:47:14,671 --> 00:47:16,805
where we need
to take things down.
814
00:47:18,071 --> 00:47:19,547
{\an1}It's time to say goodbye
to our research camp.
815
00:47:19,571 --> 00:47:22,171
(applause)
816
00:47:27,205 --> 00:47:31,038
{\an8}♪ ♪
817
00:47:31,071 --> 00:47:32,705
{\an8}(drill whirring)
818
00:47:32,738 --> 00:47:33,981
{\an8}SHUPE:
We measured right up to the end,
819
00:47:34,005 --> 00:47:38,038
{\an7}and actually, that feels great.
820
00:47:38,071 --> 00:47:40,305
{\an8}♪ ♪
821
00:47:40,338 --> 00:47:43,171
{\an1}To me, this feels like
a huge accomplishment.
822
00:47:46,138 --> 00:47:50,871
{\an8}♪ ♪
823
00:48:09,571 --> 00:48:10,638
{\an7}(woman speaking on radio)
824
00:48:10,671 --> 00:48:15,071
FONG:
So, I wake up,
and I go to the bridge...
825
00:48:15,105 --> 00:48:16,671
(radio chatter)
826
00:48:16,705 --> 00:48:18,705
{\an1}...and there's nothing.
827
00:48:25,438 --> 00:48:26,505
SHUPE:
Our floe is gone.
828
00:48:26,538 --> 00:48:30,405
{\an1}It's totally gone.
829
00:48:30,438 --> 00:48:32,571
{\an1}It's disintegrated
into a thousand pieces.
830
00:48:32,605 --> 00:48:36,271
♪ ♪
831
00:48:36,305 --> 00:48:40,471
FONG:
Overnight, we went from having
a floe that we could work on,
832
00:48:40,505 --> 00:48:42,405
{\an1}that we were moving
heavy equipment on,
833
00:48:42,438 --> 00:48:47,471
{\an7}to literally shambles of ice.
834
00:48:47,505 --> 00:48:49,105
{\an7}It was incredible.
835
00:48:49,138 --> 00:48:52,938
{\an1}(woman vocalizing)
836
00:48:55,338 --> 00:48:59,571
NARRATOR:
Soon after their ice floe
melts away into the ocean,
837
00:48:59,605 --> 00:49:02,038
{\an1}2020 is confirmed as having
838
00:49:02,071 --> 00:49:05,371
{\an1}the second-smallest extent
of summer sea ice on record.
839
00:49:09,071 --> 00:49:11,005
{\an1}Across the Arctic,
840
00:49:11,038 --> 00:49:13,138
{\an1}vast areas are ice-free.
841
00:49:13,171 --> 00:49:17,771
♪ ♪
842
00:49:17,805 --> 00:49:20,071
{\an1}There are even patches of
open water
843
00:49:20,105 --> 00:49:22,371
{\an1}at the North Pole itself.
844
00:49:22,405 --> 00:49:27,471
♪ ♪
845
00:49:27,505 --> 00:49:30,471
STROEVE:
We don't have that much
time left.
846
00:49:30,505 --> 00:49:33,271
{\an1}If the Arctic Ocean is going to
lose its summer sea ice,
847
00:49:33,305 --> 00:49:35,938
{\an1}that's a big climate shift.
848
00:49:38,771 --> 00:49:40,238
CASSANO:
The problem is that
849
00:49:40,271 --> 00:49:44,671
{\an1}climate change is
this gradual, creeping change.
850
00:49:46,405 --> 00:49:48,671
{\an1}I think eventually, we're
going to cross a, a threshold
851
00:49:48,705 --> 00:49:51,971
{\an1}where the weather and
the climate become so different
852
00:49:52,005 --> 00:49:53,705
from what
we're able to deal with,
853
00:49:53,738 --> 00:49:57,005
{\an7}that it will become a crisis.
854
00:49:57,038 --> 00:50:00,738
{\an7}That it will become urgent,
like COVID has been for us.
855
00:50:05,138 --> 00:50:08,005
FONG:
Here's the question
I would like to pose:
856
00:50:08,038 --> 00:50:10,038
{\an1}why not act now?
857
00:50:10,071 --> 00:50:15,271
♪ ♪
858
00:50:15,305 --> 00:50:18,238
CASSANO:
Humans are very resilient,
859
00:50:18,271 --> 00:50:21,571
{\an1}we're very innovative.
860
00:50:21,605 --> 00:50:23,771
{\an1}We can come up with ways
to solve this,
861
00:50:23,805 --> 00:50:26,705
{\an1}but we need to start working
together more than we are.
862
00:50:26,738 --> 00:50:29,405
♪ ♪
863
00:50:32,371 --> 00:50:35,305
{\an1}MOSAiC is a symbol of
864
00:50:35,338 --> 00:50:36,638
{\an1}what we need to deal with,
865
00:50:36,671 --> 00:50:38,505
{\an1}the challenges we face.
866
00:50:38,538 --> 00:50:40,905
{\an1}It's a global problem.
867
00:50:40,938 --> 00:50:43,671
{\an7}And you solve global problems
by acting as a global community.
868
00:50:43,705 --> 00:50:45,171
{\an1}(helicopter blades chopping)
869
00:50:45,205 --> 00:50:47,171
SHUPE:
We're leaving the Arctic now
870
00:50:47,205 --> 00:50:48,781
{\an1}with a tremendous amount of
new knowledge,
871
00:50:48,805 --> 00:50:50,405
{\an1}and it's going to be available
872
00:50:50,438 --> 00:50:51,614
{\an1}for everyone around the world
to use.
873
00:50:51,638 --> 00:50:53,671
MACFARLANE:
What each team has found
874
00:50:53,705 --> 00:50:56,371
{\an1}has been really extraordinary.
875
00:50:56,405 --> 00:50:58,538
{\an1}The implications are huge.
876
00:50:58,571 --> 00:51:00,438
♪ ♪
877
00:51:00,471 --> 00:51:02,871
NARRATOR:
From thousands of feet
above the Arctic ice
878
00:51:02,905 --> 00:51:06,071
{\an1}to the ocean deep below it,
879
00:51:06,105 --> 00:51:09,638
{\an1}the team has gathered
more than 150 terabytes
880
00:51:09,671 --> 00:51:11,071
{\an1}of vital new data
881
00:51:11,105 --> 00:51:14,205
{\an1}and countless samples
still to be examined.
882
00:51:17,405 --> 00:51:21,471
As scientists
around the world work together
883
00:51:21,505 --> 00:51:24,105
to analyze
and combine the findings,
884
00:51:24,138 --> 00:51:27,538
{\an1}they'll piece together
a new picture
885
00:51:27,571 --> 00:51:31,205
{\an1}of our changing Arctic,
886
00:51:31,238 --> 00:51:33,638
transforming
how we see our future
887
00:51:33,671 --> 00:51:35,471
{\an1}and what can be done about it.
888
00:51:38,038 --> 00:51:39,838
♪ ♪
889
00:51:39,871 --> 00:51:41,105
FONG:
The world is changing,
890
00:51:41,138 --> 00:51:43,338
{\an1}and there is something
that we can do about it,
891
00:51:43,371 --> 00:51:46,305
but it takes us
making better choices
892
00:51:46,338 --> 00:51:48,138
{\an1}about our everyday lives.
893
00:51:48,171 --> 00:51:51,871
I hope that what you've seen
894
00:51:51,905 --> 00:51:56,705
{\an1}encourages you to believe that,
as we continue to
895
00:51:56,738 --> 00:51:59,138
{\an1}be curious about our world,
896
00:51:59,171 --> 00:52:00,805
{\an1}it will help us protect it.
897
00:52:00,838 --> 00:52:03,438
♪ ♪
898
00:52:04,338 --> 00:52:06,638
{\an1}What is at stake?
899
00:52:06,671 --> 00:52:09,938
{\an1}Everything, I would say.
900
00:52:09,971 --> 00:52:12,871
♪ ♪
901
00:52:17,905 --> 00:52:25,905
{\an8}♪ ♪
902
00:52:32,838 --> 00:52:37,038
{\an8}♪ ♪
903
00:52:37,071 --> 00:52:39,005
{\an8}ALOK PATEL:
Discover the science
behind the news
904
00:52:39,038 --> 00:52:41,071
{\an7}with the "NOVA Now" podcast.
905
00:52:41,105 --> 00:52:44,505
{\an7}Listen at pbs.org/novanowpodcast
906
00:52:44,538 --> 00:52:47,638
{\an7}or wherever you find your
favorite podcasts.
907
00:52:47,671 --> 00:52:51,471
{\an8}ANNOUNCER:
To order this program on DVD,
visit ShopPBS
908
00:52:51,505 --> 00:52:54,805
{\an7}or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
909
00:52:54,838 --> 00:52:57,738
{\an7}Episodes of "NOVA" are available
with Passport.
910
00:52:57,771 --> 00:53:02,071
{\an7}"NOVA" is also available on
Amazon Prime Video.
911
00:53:02,105 --> 00:53:08,105
{\an8}♪ ♪
70772
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