Original subtitles

[WIND HOWLING].

*

NARRATOR: ANTARCTICA.

IT'S THE LEAST EXPLORED,

LEAST UNDERSTOOD CONTINENT ON EARTH.

IN WINTER, THE SUN NEVER RISES.

IN SUMMER, IT NEVER SETS.

5.4 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF FROZEN DESERT,

HOME TO THE DRIEST PLACE ON EARTH.

AVERAGE WINTER TEMPERATURE: 20 TO 90 BELOW.

BARELY ANYTHING CAN SURVIVE HERE;

NO NATIVE PEOPLE OR LAND MAMMALS,

NOT EVEN A SINGLE TREE.

BUT IN SPITE OF THE WORST CONDITIONS ON EARTH,

HUMANITY IS WORKING TO SCRATCH OUT A PRESENCE.

[CHOPPER].

HEFF: OH, LOOK AT THAT.

DANNY UHLMANN: WOW!

HEFF: THAT IS ONE MOTHER OF A BLOODY, UH, CREVASSE.

DR. OHNEISER: NOW, WE ADVANCE ONWARDS INTO NOTHING.

IT'S JUST ICE SHELF AND HORIZON NOW.

CAPTAIN WALKER: WE'RE ABOUT TO HIT SOME ICE.

NAVIGATOR: BRACE FOR SHOCK.

NARRATOR: THE WORLD'S TOP SCIENTISTS.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: THEY'RE REALLY CRYPTIC.

TOTALLY DESIGNED FOR LIVING IN THE SEA ICE.

NARRATOR: AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

TOM ARNOLD: OH, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO ENTER INTO

THE SHEAR ZONE HERE.

NARRATOR: JOIN FORCES TO BATTLE CONDITIONS THAT

THREATEN HUMAN LIFE.

TOM ARNOLD: VISIBILITY'S DOWN TO 20 METERS.

NARRATOR: THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED:

135.8 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.

AND THE STRONGEST EVER SUSTAINED WIND:

199 MILES PER HOUR.

[GUSTING WIND]

ALL IN THE NAME OF RESEARCH...

ROB TEASDALE: HOLD ON!

NARRATOR: THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD.

DR. OHNEISER: AH!

DR. BEJDER: WE'RE IN SOME PRETTY THICK ICE HERE.

FRED: I CAN'T SEE (BLEEP) ANYMORE.

CAPTAIN WALKER: HEY, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

SOMETHING, I JUST HIT SOMETHING.

[ALARM].

MAN: WE'VE GOT AN ALARM.

SEND SOMEBODY TO INVESTIGATE IT.

MAN: WANT TO PUT THE PROPULSION MOTOR IN NEUTRAL?

SEAN: THAT LOOKS (BLEEP) STEEP.

BLOODY HELL.

[INAUDIBLE].

NARRATOR: ANTARCTICA IS THE LAST GREAT MYSTERY ON EARTH.

*

IN THIS FROZEN WASTELAND, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANET,

IT TAKES A MASSIVE EFFORT JUST TO SURVIVE.

THERE ARE OVER 70 BASES.

BUILT BY 30 COUNTRIES.

AND SPREAD ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

AT THE MOUTH OF MCMURDO SOUND,

IN THE HEART OF THE ROSS SEA REGION,

IS SCOTT BASE, NEW ZEALAND'S PERMANENT RESEARCH OUTPOST.

TRUDIE: HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO SCOTT BASE.

PETER MCCARTHY: GET YOUR GEAR OFF.

GET COMFORTABLE.

NARRATOR: HERE SCIENTISTS ARE HOUSED, FED,

AND PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS BY A NETWORK OF

GREEN BUILDINGS, LINKED BY WEATHERPROOF TUNNELS,

AND IT'S ALL COORDINATED BY SCOTT BASE LEADERSHIP.

PETER MCCARTHY: RIGHT NOW AT SCOTT BASE THIS IS

THE BUSY SEASON.

IT STARTS IN OCTOBER AND GOES RIGHT ALL THE

WAY THROUGH TO FEBRUARY.

SO, THAT'S FIVE MONTHS WE'RE PRETTY MUCH PEAKING.

IN TOTAL WITH HAVE ABOUT 330 PEOPLE GOING SOUTH.

SO IT'S PRETTY CRAZY.

IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, OVER 200 PEOPLE TO SUPPORT,

YOU KNOW, 90 SCIENTISTS.

ROB TEASDALE: GET THAT ONE OVER UP ON TOP.

DR. OHNEISER: I CAN HELP YOU TIE THAT STUFF DOWN.

NARRATOR: TODAY, THE ROSS ICE SHELF TEAM IS LEAVING

ON ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS EXPEDITIONS IN

THE HISTORY OF SCOTT BASE.

CHRISTINA: WE'RE PACKING UP.

ALL OF OUR SCIENCE CARGO IS READY TO GO.

NARRATOR: TEN SCIENTISTS, AND TWO SURVIVAL EXPERTS,

ARE GOING 220 MILES SOUTH TO A FLOATING MASS OF ICE ATTACHED

TO THE CONTINENT, WHERE NO ONE HAS LIKELY EVER SET FOOT.

DR. OHNEISER: THE ROSS ICE SHELF IS THE LARGEST LUMP OF

FLOATING ICE IN THE WORLD.

IT'S THE SIZE OF FRANCE AND ACTUALLY WE'VE GOT ONE

MEASUREMENT THAT'S EVER BEEN MADE IN THE 1970'S.

THAT'S IT, AND THE REST OF IT'S A MYSTERY.

SO LITTLE IS KNOWN.

THE SURFACE OF PLUTO HAS MUCH BETTER IMAGERY THAN

WHAT'S BENEATH THE ROSS ICE SHELF.

IT'S A LOT OF NEW STUFF THAT WE'RE GONNA DISCOVER.

NARRATOR: DR. CHRISTIAN OHNEISER AND HIS TEAM ARE

HOPING TO LEARN HOW THE ICE SHELF REACTED TO CLIMATE

SHIFTS IN THE DISTANT PAST, SO THEY CAN TRY TO PREDICT HOW

FAST IT MIGHT MELT AS THE CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.

DR. OHNEISER: THE ROSS ICE SHELF HOLDS BACK A PIECE

OF ICE SHEET THAT'S THREATENED.

IF IT FALLS APART AND IT MELTS.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S FAR AWAY, THE IMPACT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE

IN THE ORDER OF SIX, SEVEN METERS OF SEA LEVEL.

BUT, I'D BE WORRIED ABOUT 10 CENTIMETERS THAT'S ALREADY

ENOUGH TO IMPACT LOW-LYING AREAS LIKE WHERE

I COME FROM SOUTH DUNEDIN.

YOU CAN WRITE OFF WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS THERE.

SIX METERS OF COURSE YOU'RE WIPING OUT EVERYTHING.

TOM ARNOLD: WE'VE GOT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN ALL VEHICLES.

ROB TEASDALE: I'LL JUST GO AND DOUBLE CHECK THAT

THEY'RE IN THERE.

NARRATOR: TOM IS IN CHARGE TEAM SAFETY,

AND HE HAS TO LEAD THEM SOUTH ACROSS OVER 200 MILES

OF ROUGH ICE, INCLUDING A KNOWN AREA OF DEADLY CRACKS

CALLED THE SHEAR ZONE.

TOM ARNOLD: THE SHEAR ZONE, MASSIVE CREVASSING OUT THERE.

THEY ARE HUGE.

PRETTY HUMBLING SIGHT.

NOBODY IS TO LEAVE A VEHICLE DURING THAT TIME WE

GO THROUGH THAT AREA.

SOME OF THE CREVASSES IN THE SHEAR ZONE CAN BE

FIVE, SIX, SEVEN METERS WIDE AND PROBABLY 30, 40 METERS DEEP.

SO IT REALLY GIVES YOU THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'RE QUITE A

SMALL FISH IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS AND

MOTHER NATURE REALLY HAS CONTROL HERE.

THREE IN THE BACK, ONE IN THE FRONT!

YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

KNOWING THAT IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET BACK TO SCOTT BASE SAFELY

IS A HUGE, HUGE DEAL.

ROB TEASDALE: LET'S ROLL.

NARRATOR: TO SURVIVE THE JOURNEY,

THE TEAM IS RELYING ON SPECIALIZED VEHICLES,

CALLED HÄGGLUNDS.

GREG: THESE HÄGGLUNDS, PRETTY TOUGH.

THEY'RE TRACK VEHICLES.

THEY SHARE SIMILARITIES WITH TANKS.

THEY'RE REALLY WELL SUITED FOR WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO.

DR. OHNEISER: I'M LOOKING AT THIS WHITE EXPANSE OF NOTHING,

AND IT'S A BIT CREEPY.

WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH ENERGY AND TIME.

MONTHS OF PLANNING AND BUILDING A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

BUT, NOW WHAT HAPPENS?

NO ONE'S EVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

IT'S EXPLORATION.

IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING.

FROM THIS POINT ON WE'VE GOT FOUR HOURS BEFORE WE GET INTO

THE SHEAR ZONE, AND THEN VERY GINGERLY MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH,

UM, WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY A MINEFIELD OF CREVASSES.

BARBARA: ANTARCTICA, WE'RE HERE, WE HAVE ARRIVED.

NARRATOR: SCOTT BASE CAN ONLY HOUSE 85 PEOPLE AT A TIME.

SO, PROJECTS ARE CONSTANTLY CYCLING THROUGH.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 90 MISSIONS SCHEDULED THIS SEASON.

NONE OF THEM MORE CHALLENGING THAN THIS ONE.

DANNY UHLMANN: HEY, GRAHAM.

DR. HILL: DANNY!

DANNY UHLMANN: DO WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED?

ALL THE CABLES AND COILS AND SKIS?

DR. HILL: THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE.

DANNY UHLMANN: GOOD.

NARRATOR: THE MT. EREBUS TEAM IS STUDYING ANTARCTICA'S

MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO,

CHOPPERING TO 132 DIFFERENT SITES TO PLANT

INSTRUMENTS THAT'LL CREATE A COMPOSITE IMAGE OF

ITS INNER WORKINGS.

DR. HILL: OOO, THOSE ARE STINKY.

NARRATOR: TODAY, THEY'RE GEARING UP TO FLY

NEAR ITS SUMMIT.

DANNY UHLMANN: GETTING DRESSED TO GO ABOUT 11,000 FEET.

SO, IT COULD BE MINUS 20 UP THERE AND IT'S A RULE THAT WE

ALWAYS HAVE TO WEAR THIS BIG PUFFY JACKET IN

THE HELICOPTER IN CASE IT CRASHES.

DR. HILL: ANOTHER DAY.

DOUBLE LAYERS FOR COMFORT AND EXTRA WARMTH.

NARRATOR: DR. GRAHAM HILL IS A LEAD SCIENTIST

FOR THE PROJECT.

DR. HILL: WE'RE MEASURING THE ELECTRIC FIELD AND THE

MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE VOLCANO AT A SERIES OF POINTS,

WHICH WE THEN COMBINE AND DO EFFECTIVELY A

CAT SCAN OF THE SUBSURFACE.

SO, IF WE CAN GET A COULD GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING

OF WHAT THE STRUCTURE IS, WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING

OF WHAT SIGNALS THEY MIGHT GENERATE WHEN

THEY'RE GOING TO ERUPT.

WE'LL BE HEADING OUT.

DR. HILL: AND WE CAN APPLY WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT HOW

THIS VOLCANO WORKS TO OTHER VOLCANOES ELSEWHERE

IN THE WORLD.

BECAUSE QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE NEAR VOLCANIC CENTERS.

SO, IF THEY ERUPT, THAT COULD JUST WIPE OUT

THE SURROUNDING AREA.

VOLCANOES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HUMAN LIFE.

DANNY UHLMANN: LET'S GET OVER THERE.

DR. HILL: TIME TO GO TO WORK.

DANNY UHLMANN: ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.

NARRATOR: DANNY ISN'T A SCIENTIST.

HE'S A WORLD CLASS MOUNTAINEER.

AND IT'S HIS JOB IS TO KEEP THE TEAM ALIVE ON

THE SIDE OF THE VOLCANO.

DANNY UHLMANN: LET'S GO.

I LOVE DOING MY JOB.

I GET TO TAKE PEOPLE ON ALL THESE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES,

BUT YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

EITHER YOU'RE SAFE AND YOU COME HOME,

OR YOU SCREW UP AND YOU DON'T COME HOME.

RADIO: INDIA DELTA ECHO MAC CENTER, ROGER.

NARRATOR: THIS IS HEFF.

HEFF FLIES THE CHOPPER.

MT. EREBUS IS JUST MORE THAN 20 MILES AWAY AND

HE HAS TO NAVIGATE UNPREDICTABLE WINDS.

HEFF: BIT OF A BREEZE UP HERE.

20 KNOTS MAYBE.

DANNY UHLMANN: PRETTY GOOD.

NARRATOR: HE ALSO HAS TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO LAND.

AND THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN IS COVERED IN CREVASSES.

DANNY UHLMANN: BASICALLY, A CREVASSE IS LIKE AN OPENING

IN THE GLACIER LIKE THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ACTION IN THIS AREA,

A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN THE GLACIER.

HEFF: OH, LOOK AT THAT.

DANNY UHLMANN: WOW.

HEFF: THAT IS ONE MOTHER OF A BLOODY CREVASSE.

DANNY UHLMANN: SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE RIGHT INTO THEM

AND YOU GO, "YUP, THAT'S A CREVASSE.

I'M NOT GOING TO LAND IN THAT BIG, GAPING HOLE."

BUT OFTEN, IT CAN BE HIDDEN UNDERNEATH A SNOW BRIDGE.

FROM THE HELICOPTER THEY COULD BE ANY OLD SIZE, YOU KNOW?

DR. HILL: YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CRAZY TO

COME TO ANTARCTICA AND FLY AROUND ON A CREVASSE-FILLED

VOLCANO THAT IS ERUPTING.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE KINDA OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT

ICE STREAM THERE.

HEFF: YEAH.

DR. HILL: WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE THESE KIND OF THINGS

BACK HOME THEY DO LOOK AT YOU A BIT ODD.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?"

IT'S JUST ONE OF THE REALITIES OF ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK.

HEFF: ALL RIGHT, ONE MILE.

START LOOKIN.

DANNY UHLMANN: WE'LL JUST FIND THE NICEST LOOKING SPOT.

HEFF: RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

DR. HILL: THAT'S GREAT HEFF.

BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH EXCELLENT PILOTS,

SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

WE'VE GOT TOTAL FAITH IN THE GUYS WE'RE FLYING WITH.

HEFF: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET DOWN TO THE, UM, BUSINESS END.

RIGHT-O, I'M JUST GONNA COME IN THERE.

GRAVITY'S TAKING HOLD.

NARRATOR: THEY'VE LANDED,

BUT THEY'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

JUST THIS YEAR, A VETERAN PILOT FROM AN AUSSIE BASE

LANDED ON WHAT APPEARED TO BE SAFE GROUND.

NEWS ANCHOR: HE WAS DELIVERING FUEL TO A DEPOT

ON THE WEST ICE SHELF.

AFTER GETTING OUT OF HIS HELICOPTER,

HE FELL INTO A DEEP CREVASSE.

THEY MANAGED TO RETRIEVE HIM FROM A DEPTH OF ABOUT

20 METERS, BUT HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES.

[HELICOPTER BLADES SPINNING].

NARRATOR: IT'S DANNY'S JOB TO CHECK FOR CREVASSES,

LIKE THAT ONE WHILE THE PILOT KEEPS THE ROTOR SPINNING

TO TAKE OFF QUICKLY IF THE SNOW CAVES IN.

HEFF: ALRIGHT, I WOULD SAY JUMP OUT THERE.

[HELICOPTER BLADES SPINNING].

DANNY UHLMANN: ARE THE PROBES IN THE POD THERE?

HEFF: IT'S IN YOUR POD, YEP.

DANNY UHLMANN: OKAY.

NARRATOR: THE MT. EREBUS TEAM'S

CHOPPER IS STILL POWERED,

SO IT CAN LIFT OFF IF A CREVASSE OPENS UP BENEATH THEM.

DANNY UHLMANN: I'LL JUST GO HAVE A LITTLE POKE.

NARRATOR: AND ITS DANNY'S JOB TO TEST FOR HARD-PACKED SNOW,

AND AVOID HIDDEN HOLES.

DANNY UHLMANN: THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE'RE ON

TERRAIN THAT HAS CREVASSES UNDERNEATH THAT WE CAN'T SEE.

IT IS A PRETTY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY;

I'VE HAD VERY CLOSE FRIENDS DIE IN CREVASSE FALLS

IN SITUATIONS JUST LIKE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

SO, FOR ME, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY REAL.

OKAY.

NARRATOR: HE'S WEARING SKIS TO SPREAD OUT HIS WEIGHT,

BUT EVEN SO, EVERY STEP IS TREACHEROUS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS...

WALKING BETWEEN TWO SKYSCRAPERS,

AT LEAST THE WALKER CAN SEE THE DROP,

SEE THE WIRE STRAIGHT AHEAD.

CRAZY AS IT MIGHT BE, IF HE PUTS ONE FOOT IN FRONT

OF THE OTHER, HE'LL MAKE IT SAFELY ACROSS,

AND AVOID A 1300-FOOT DROP.

DANNY COULD BE OVER A SIMILAR DROP AND

HE CAN'T EVEN SEE THE WIRE.

DANNY UHLMANN: I'M JUST GONNA POKE AROUND A BIT.

I HAVE TO POKE AROUND AND REALLY HAVE A

GOOD INSPECTION OF THE SITE.

KINDA FEELING THE SNOW FOR THE CONSISTENCY,

AND THE SNOW DEPTH.

*

HEFF: AH-HAA, WE MADE IT!

DANNY UHLMANN: OPEN THIS.

HEY, GUYS.

I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD TO GET OUT.

IT'S A NICE ACCUMULATION ZONE SO THERE'S LOTS OF SNOW HERE

AND IT'S A NICE COMPRESSION AREA AS WELL.

SO, I THINK, AS LONG WE KEEP IT NICE AND TIGHT,

WE SHOULD BE FINE.

YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH.

NOW, I KINDA BLESS THE AREA.

THIS AREA IS SAFE AND PEOPLE CAN GET OUT AND START WORKING.

NARRATOR: GRAHAM AND HIS TEAM ARE ON THE CLOCK.

THEY HAVE TO BURY FOUR SENSORS IN

FOUR DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS,

AND RUN HUNDREDS OF FEET OF CABLE BACK TO A CENTRAL

COMPUTER AND THE CHOPPER WILL BE BACK FOR THEM

IN TWO HOURS.

DR. HILL: FINGERS ARE GETTING A BIT CHILLY TRYING

TO DO THIS HERE IN THE WIND.

MICHAL: BUT I THINK I HAVE DRANK TOO MUCH WATER.

DANNY UHLMANN: WOW MAN, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE HYDRATED.

GOOD JOB.

NARRATOR: IN ANTARCTICA, NOTHING GETS LEFT BEHIND:

NOT EVEN URINE.

IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE MOST PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT

ON THE PLANET, ALL HUMAN WASTE IS BROUGHT BACK TO SCOTT BASE.

[TOILET FLUSH].

AND EVERY BIT OF IT ENDS UP HERE.

PAUL BOWERING: AFTER THIS COMES OUT,

YOU KNOW A WOMAN WILL NEVER LOOK AT ME AGAIN, DON'T YOU?

NARRATOR: PAUL IS IN CHARGE OF THE WATER TREATMENT CENTER,

BETTER KNOWN AS THE POO PLANT.

PAUL BOWERING: BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH INFLUENT AT THE MOMENT.

IT'S KIND OF EASIER ON THE SYSTEM JUST TO DO

SOME MANUAL STUFF.

OUR INFLUENT COMES IN THROUGH THE MAIN SEWER PIPE

AND THROUGH THE BRUSH SCREEN.

THE BRUSH SCREEN TAKES OUT SOLID STUFF AND

THAT GOES INTO A BAG.

SO, THIS IS WHAT WE END UP WITH OUT

OF THE SLUDGE PROCESS.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEEF JERKY LOOKING THING.

WOULDN'T SELL IT IN YOUR LOCAL STORE,

BUT THAT'S A LOT OF BEEF JERKY.

NARRATOR: THE WASTE BECOMES SCOTT BASE'S PRIMARY EXPORT.

PAUL BOWERING: THERE'S ONE, GOOD TO GO.

NARRATOR: EVERYTHING THAT CAN'T BE RECYCLED IS

SENT BACK TO NEW ZEALAND.

IT'S PART OF A GLOBAL EFFORT TO MINIMIZE IMPACT ON

THE FROZEN CONTINENT, A GOAL OF A TREATY SIGNED

BY 53 NATIONS.

PAUL BOWERING: YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE THE WASTE FROM PEOPLE AND

EVERYTHING HAPPENING HERE JUST DISAPPEARING INTO THE OCEAN.

IT'S, UH, IT'S GOTTA BE TREATED.

IT'S GOTTA, WE GOTTA LOOK AFTER.

NARRATOR: JUST LIKE THE CONTINENT ITSELF,

THE SURROUNDING OCEAN IS CAREFULLY PROTECTED.

WILDLIFE MIGRATES TO THESE WATERS EVERY YEAR,

AND PERHAPS NO FEEDING GROUND IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN

ONE OFF THE COAST OF THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA.

THE NORTHERNMOST TIP OF THE MAINLAND.

TED: DO YOU SEE ANY PARTICULAR SITES OF CONCENTRATION?

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: BACK IN HERE, IF IT'S CALM,

THIS IS WHERE THOSE ANIMALS WILL BE SLEEPING.

TED: OH NICE.

NARRATOR: DR. ARI FRIEDLAENDER IS ONE OF THE

PREEMINENT SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS IN HIS FIELD.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: SO THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT

THE THREE OR FOUR AREAS RIGHT IN HERE,

THAT THERE'S ALWAYS WHALES.

NARRATOR: HIS GOAL IS TO STUDY HUMPBACK AND MINKE WHALES,

TO FIND OUT HOW THEIR ECOSYSTEM RESPONDS TO A

CHANGING CLIMATE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: THIS IS SORT OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

OF THAT FEEDING SEASON.

SO, FILL IN THAT GAP OF WHAT THESE ANIMALS ARE DOING

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IS GONNA BE PRETTY AWESOME.

WE'RE TRYING TO MEASURE THE UNDERWATER BEHAVIOR AND

MOVEMENTS OF THE WHALES, GET AN ESTIMATE OF THEIR SIZE,

AND WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHALES NEED

TO SURVIVE AND THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT THEY EAT.

IF YOU DON'T EAT ENOUGH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REPRODUCE,

AND IF YOU DON'T REPRODUCE, IT'S A VERY QUICK PROCESS INTO

YOUR POPULATION NOT GROWING.

TED: WE JUST LEFT DECEPTION ISLAND.

WE'LL EASILY GET INTO THE GERLACHE STRAITS,

IN THE MOUTH OF THE HARARAH CHANNEL BY DAWN.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: PERFECT.

TED: IF THE WHALES ARE LOOKING GOOD, YOU CAN BE OUT WORKING.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: COOL.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MADE HUGE CHANGES

IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, THE WINTER AIR HAS RAISED

BY ABOUT FIVE DEGREES CELSIUS.

THE SEA ICE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS,

ON THIS PART OF THE PENINSULA, HAS DECREASED IN THE NUMBER OF

DAYS THAT ARE ICE COVERED.

THERE'S A HUGE STANDING STOCK OF KRILL HERE,

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO FEED ON.

BUT THE WARMING THAT'S OCCURRED HERE,

IF THAT AFFECTS THE WAY THE KRILL ARE DISTRIBUTED,

IT COULD MEAN SOMETHING PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

NARRATOR: MORE THAN 4 BILLION PEOPLE RELY ON SEAFOOD

AS A STAPLE.

AND THE FISH WE EAT, EAT SMALLER FISH,

WHICH EAT SMALLER FISH, IN SOME CASES,

ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CHAIN TO THIS: KRILL.

AS SEA ICE RECEDES, THE ALGAE THEY EAT GOES WITH IT.

AND IF KRILL DISAPPEARS,

SO DOES THE WHALE'S FOOD SUPPLY,

AND A BIG PART OF OUR OWN.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WE'VE GOT THE DRONES AND THE SUCTION CUP TAGS.

DR. BEJDER: SEE IF THEY SURVIVED THE TRIP.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WE HAVE A SMALL UAV,

A LITTLE QUADCOPTER WITH A CAMERA ON IT.

WHEN WE FLY THAT OVER THE WHALE,

WE CAN GET A VERY PRECISE ESTIMATE OF THE

SIZE OF THAT ANIMAL.

DR. BEJDER: SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO FIRE THE

MOTORS UP WITHOUT THE PROPS.

MAKE SURE THAT'S ALL RUNNING.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO IS

DEPLOYING SUCTION CUP TAGS.

THESE TAGS ARE BASICALLY LIKE A SMARTPHONE.

THEY RECORD THE ANGLE OF THE WHALE,

WHETHER IT'S ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE,

THE HEADING OF THE WHALE, THE DEPTH,

AND THE SPEED OF THE WHALE AND IT DOES

THAT HUNDREDS OF TIMES A SECOND.

IT ALSO RECORDS VIDEO, WHICH IS AWESOME BECAUSE WE CAN THEN,

SORT OF, CORROBORATE THE THINGS THAT THE SENSORS ARE

TELLING US WITH WHAT WE ACTUALLY SEE THE WHALE DOING.

IT'S GOT TWO 720P CAMERAS IN THERE.

WE CAN GET ABOUT NINE HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DATA.

AND ALL OF THAT PACKAGED TOGETHER GIVES US

A REALLY PRECISE, UH, ESTIMATE OF THE HEALTH OF

THE ANIMALS DOWN HERE.

DR. BEJDER: TAGS, DATA, UAV DATA COMBINED IS GOING

TO BE OPENING NEW WORLDS REALLY.

SO, LET'S GO FIND SOME WHALES!

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: YEAH, LET'S DO IT!

*

ROB TEASDALE: OKAY TEAM, THIS MARKS THE SHEAR ZONE.

SO, COME IN NICE AND CLOSE BEHIND US.

DR. OHNEISER: OKAY, THANK YOU.

NARRATOR: THE ROSS ICE SHELF TEAM HAS TRAVELED ABOUT

30 MILES, AND THEY'RE FACING THE MOST DANGEROUS

PART OF THEIR TRAVERSE.

TOM ARNOLD: OH, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO ENTER INTO

THE SHEAR ZONE HERE.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S CAPABLE,

SHOULD THE WORST POSSIBLE CASE HAPPEN.

NARRATOR: THE SHEAR ZONE LOOKS LIKE A SAFE

PATCH OF SNOW, BUT LIKE MT. EREBUS IT'S FULL

OF HIDDEN CREVASSES.

ROB TEASDALE: FIRST FLAT NOT AS BENIGN AS IT LOOKS.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

ON ONE SIDE, WE'VE GOT SORT OF THE MCMURDO, UM, ICE SHELF.

AND THE OTHER IS THE ROSS ICE SHELF.

IT'S WHERE TWO LARGE, KIND OF ICE MASSES ARE COMING

TOGETHER, MUCH LIKE A RIVER COMES TOGETHER.

AND THE REASON IT'S CALLED A SHEAR ZONE IS BECAUSE

THERE'S KIND OF A SHEARING EFFECT BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO IT'S QUITE AN ACTIVE AREA.

INTERESTING SPOT.

TOM ARNOLD: THE SHEAR ZONE IS AN INTIMIDATING AREA:

AROUND ABOUT SIX OR SO KILOMETERS THAT HAVE A NUMBER

OF SIGNIFICANTLY LARGE CREVASSES IN THEM.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A ROUTE THROUGH THERE.

WE REALLY REDUCE THAT SPEED DOWN EVEN FURTHER SO THAT

WE'RE A 100% SURE OF WHAT WE'RE DRIVING ON IS

GOOD TO DRIVE ACROSS.

ROB TEASDALE: JUST KEEP A LITTLE EXTRA FOLLOWING DISTANCE.

DR. OHNEISER: HOW FAR DO YOU WANT, 50 METERS, 100?

ROB TEASDALE: UH, MAYBE 50 METERS.

WE'RE JUST GONNA BE GOING A LITTLE BIT SLOWER

THROUGH HERE, AND IF WE STOP, YOU SHOULD TOO.

TOM ARNOLD: WE'RE JUST GONNA GET ALL OUR GEAR PREPARED

FOR A CREVASSE RESCUE.

ROB TEASDALE: PROCEED WITH CAUTION, FINGERS CROSSED.

NARRATOR: CROSSING THE SHEAR ZONE SHOULD TAKE A FEW HOURS.

BUT TOM AND ROB HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR IT FOR WEEKS.

ROB TEASDALE: SO, THIS IS THE RADAR BOOM FOR OUR PB 100.

WE WILL BE FITTING A GPR UNIT, GROUND PENETRATING RADAR,

AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE ON THE MONITOR WHEN WE'RE

APPROACHING CREVASSES AND THAT'LL ENABLE US

TO NOT DRIVE INTO THEM.

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY.

REAL KEY PIECE OF THIS WHOLE PROJECT FOR THIS YEAR

AND GOING INTO THE FUTURE AS WELL.

SO, JUST GOTTA GET IT UP AND RUNNING.

NARRATOR: THE BOOM STRETCHES 24 FEET AHEAD,

AND CONNECTS TO A SCREEN THAT SHOWS ICE COMPOSITION

UP TO 49 FEET DEEP.

BENDS IN THE LINES INDICATE EMPTY SPACE UNDER THE SNOW.

TOM ARNOLD: SOME OF THE CREVASSES THROUGH HERE WOULD

LITERALLY SWALLOW THIS WHOLE VEHICLE, AND PROBABLY THE,

UH, TWO TRAILERS BEHIND IT.

UM, SO, IF WE HADN'T LOOKED AT THE RADAR IMAGERY,

AND WE ACTUALLY JUST CARRIED ON, DROPPED INTO A CREVASSE,

IT WOULD PROBABLY BE ALL OVER.

ROB TEASDALE: OKAY TEAM, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HEAD OFF

SLOWLY AIMING FOR ABOUT 12K AN HOUR.

DR. OHNEISER: ROGER FROM H1.

ANDREW: ROGER ON THAT FROM H2.

ROB TEASDALE: WE GOT SOME UM BLACK FLAGS

COMING UP HERE, TOM.

SHOULD BE SEEING SOMETHING FAIRLY SHORTLY I'D SAY.

DR. OHNEISER: IT'S KINDA CREEPY, YA KNOW?

SO, EACH ONE OF THESE WOODEN STAKES HERE REPRESENTS

A KNOWN CREVASSE.

RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT ONE FIVE METERS THAT WAY

AND ONE SIX METERS THAT WAY.

LAURINE VAN HAASTREECHT: YEAH, THOSE BLACK FLAGS ARE A LITTLE

BIT FREAKY WHEN YOU SEE THEM RIGHT BY WHERE YOU ARE.

JUST ALONG THE WHOLE ROAD AND THE CREVASSE AREA YOU SEE

BLACK FLAGS EVERYWHERE.

BLACK FLAGS MEAN, WELL, "DEATH" OR DON'T GO THERE SO

THAT'S A BIT NERVE-WRACKING.

DR. OHNEISER: IT IS A BIT SPOOKY, YEAH, WHEN YOU KNOW,

YOU KNOW YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH THE ALLIGATOR PIT.

TOM ARNOLD: YEAH, WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE PROBABLY

THE MOST DANGEROUS AREA.

ROB TEASDALE: HEY GUYS, WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH.

UMM, YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS FLAG LINE'S KINDA

NO LONGER STRAIGHT, SORT OF INDICATIVE OF HOW MUCH

THIS ROAD'S MOVING.

DR. OHNEISER: YEAH, ROGER THAT.

THAT'S CRAZY, WOW.

THERE'S SO MANY CREVASSES HERE.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY DEATHS BEFORE WE EVEN

GET THE SCIENCE DONE.

NARRATOR: THE LARGEST CREVASSES EVER MEASURED ON THE

ROSS ICE SHELF ARE ALMOST 350 FEET ACROSS AND

500 FEET DEEP.

AND SINCE THE WHOLE ICE SHELF IS FLOATING,

THE CRACKS IN IT ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING.

ROB TEASDALE: COUPLE MORE BLACK FLAGS COMING UP.

THEY LOOK LIKE REASONABLY NEW BLACK FLAGS.

TOM ARNOLD: THERE'S SOMETHING COMING IN NOW

PRETTY HIGH ACTUALLY.

THE BOOM IS ABOUT 7.5 METERS LONG AND IT GIVES US AROUND

ABOUT 3 TO 6 SECONDS OF STOPPING DISTANCE ONCE

WE SEE SOMETHING COME UP ON THE SCREEN.

BIG, BIG VOID GOING DOWN;

SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

STOP THERE, STOP!

DR. OHNEISER: WELL, HE'S ACTUALLY STOPPED NOW.

ROB TEASDALE: WE JUST STOPPED OVER A CRACK.

OBVIOUS VOID UNDERNEATH.

TOM ARNOLD: DEEP VOID UNDERNEATH,

BUT THE SURFACE IS PRETTY BRIDGED RIGHT ACROSS.

STOP THERE, STOP!

DR. OHNEISER: WELL, HE'S ACTUALLY STOPPED NOW.

NARRATOR: THE ROSS ICE SHELF TEAM IS IN THE SHEAR ZONE,

AN AREA LITTERED WITH DEADLY CRACKS IN THE ICE,

AND THE LEAD VEHICLE IS RIGHT ON TOP OF ONE.

TOM ARNOLD: WE JUST STOPPED OVER A CRACK.

OBVIOUS VOID UNDERNEATH.

THREE, FOUR METERS STRETCH.

BRIDGES BASICALLY HIDING THE CREVASSES,

SO THEY'VE GIVEN YOU A FALSE IDEA OF WHAT'S BENEATH THERE.

SO, DRIVING ALONG YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE THAT THERE'S

A CREVASSE DOWN THERE.

[GRUNTS].

ROB, I'LL RUN IT ROUND YOUR SIDE AND THEN YOU CAN

CLIP ON AS WELL.

JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEED.

HARNESSES ARE FITTING CORRECTLY,

ALL THE BUCKLES AND LOOPS ARE DONE UP AS THEY SHOULD BE.

UH, WE'VE WELL AND TRULY OPENED THIS UP.

THAT'S ALL THAT SNOW BRIDGE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CAN'T QUITE SEE THE BOTTOM BUT IT GOES DOWN

AT LEAST 30 METERS.

SO YEAH, I'M JUST GOING TO PROBE THIS SIDE HERE, ROB,

AND SEE HOW THAT LOOKS FOR A SLIGHTLY BETTER CROSSING.

ROB TEASDALE: YUP.

TOM ARNOLD: VOIDED, I'VE GOT THROUGH THERE.

LOOKS GOOD.

YEAH, SO THE CRACK IS STILL HERE BUT IT'S ONLY MAYBE,

15 OR SO CENTIMETERS WIDE.

SO, IT IS OBVIOUSLY NARROWING AS WE GO.

YEAH, THAT'S LOOKING REAL GOOD.

FROM HERE, THROUGH HERE WOULD BE SWEET.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING THEM THROUGH THIS WAY.

ROB TEASDALE: LET'S JUST WATCH THEM COME ACROSS AND

GET THEM TO PARK UP BEFORE THIS NEXT POST HERE.

TOM ARNOLD: YEAH.

ROB TEASDALE: AND ONCE THEY STOP, THEN WE'LL GO.

ALRIGHT GUYS, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HEAD OFF SLOWLY.

YOU CAN SEE THE TWO LINES THAT TOM MADE OVER

BY THE FLAGS OVER THERE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE WHERE YOU GUYS ARE GONNA CROSS.

DR. OHNEISER: ROGER, THANK YOU.

IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE SCARY DOING THIS.

I'M VERY NERVOUS DRIVING,

YOU CAN FALL DOWN INTO A DEEP HOLE,

AND YOU PROBABLY WILL DIE.

IT HAPPENS, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE IN ANTARCTICA.

BUT WE CAN'T TURN BACK,

AND WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME PLANNING.

YOU JUST HAVE TO GET THROUGH THAT.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT TOM AND ROB ARE THERE FOR.

TOM ARNOLD: YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN A LITTLE

BIT RIGHT NOW, ROB.

ROB TEASDALE: BRING IT OVER TOWARDS ME A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE.

AND STOP.

TOM ARNOLD: CLEAR!

WOO!

ROB TEASDALE: WE'RE ALIVE!

TOM ARNOLD: WELL DONE.

ROB TEASDALE: WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

TOM ARNOLD: LET'S GET SOME KILOMETERS UNDER THE BELT.

NARRATOR: THE TEAM IS SAFELY ACROSS.

BUT NOW, SCOTT BASE COMMS IS MONITORING A STORM

HEADING UP FROM THE SOUTH POLE.

MAJOR MCCOLL: H4 THIS IS SCOTT BASE.

TOM ARNOLD: SCOTT BASE, SCOTT BASE, P-B ZERO ONE.

MAJOR MCCOLL: THE WEATHER IS THE DETERMINING FACTOR HERE

SHOWING AT THE MOMENT 40 KNOTS OF WIND POSSIBLY

GUSTING TO UP TO 55 KNOTS.

BAD CONDITIONS THEIR VISIBILITY WILL DROP.

SNOW GONNA PASS THROUGH THE AREA.

QUITE HEAVY SNOW.

TOM ARNOLD: ROGER.

DEFINITELY A RELIEF TO GET THROUGH THE SHEAR ZONE.

BUT WHERE WE'RE DRIVING TO IS PRETTY MUCH DIRECTLY SOUTH

WHICH IS WHERE THE STORM SYSTEM'S GONNA COME IN FROM.

I GUESS YOU'RE ALWAYS HOPING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE

AS BAD AS IT'S FORECASTED.

IT MIGHT BLOW OUT, AND WE'LL HAVE FINE, GOOD,

REASONABLY GOOD WEATHER.

BUT, YEARS' WORTH OF PLANNING GONE INTO THESE EVENTS,

SO GETTING MOVING AND SEEING HOW IT GOES IS

KIND OF PART OF, PART OF HOW IT HAS TO

WORK DOWN IN ANTARCTICA.

DR. OHNEISER: ROB AND TOM HAVE GUIDED US THROUGH.

NOW WE ADVANCE ONWARD INTO NOTHING.

WOW, IT'S CRAZY.

IT'S JUST ICE SHELF AND HORIZON NOW.

DANNY UHLMANN: YEAH, I'M READY MAN.

MICHAL: 3 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THIS LITTLE CLOUD.

DANNY UHLMANN: OKAY, I'M GOING.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MINIMAL

WITH THE STOPPING, OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA GET IN TROUBLE.

DR. HILL: START DIGGING!

NARRATOR: THE MT. EREBUS TEAM BURIES INSTRUMENTS ON

A NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST AXIS TO MEASURE

THE NATURALLY OCCURRING ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS

THAT ARE CONSTANTLY PASSING THROUGH EARTH'S SURFACE.

DANNY UHLMANN: AM I GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE?

THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION.

NARRATOR: THE CURRENTS MOVE THROUGH DIFFERENT LAYERS OF

THE EARTH AT VARYING SPEEDS,

AND A CENTRAL COMPUTER RECORDS THOSE DIFFERENCES.

THEIR GOAL IS TO COLLECT DATA ACROSS 132 DIFFERENT SITES,

AND COMBINE THEM TO CREATE A PICTURE OF THE

VOLCANO'S INNER STRUCTURE AND MAGMA FLOW.

DR. HILL: THIS LITTLE BOX IS THE BRAINS OF THE

OPERATION OUT HERE AND IS BASICALLY A REALLY,

REALLY FANCY DATA COLLECTOR.

NARRATOR: AND ALL OF IT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE

THE CHOPPER COMES BACK FOR THEM.

DR. HILL: IT TAKES US ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF

TO PUT ONE INTO THE GROUND.

OR IF IT'S A SITE WHERE IT'S NOT SNOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO

DIG, IT'S GLACIAL ICE; IT CAN TAKE SIX, SEVEN HOURS.

SO, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE LONGER

THAN THEY WOULD PRETTY MUCH ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

GOT ABOUT AN HOUR OF SLEEP IN THE LAST 36 HOURS,

BUT THAT'S A GOOD HOLE.

[DIGGING].

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: SO NICK, LET'S JUST HAVE YOU RIGHT IN

THAT SPOT THERE IS GOOD.

NICK: YEAH, I FEEL GOOD UP HERE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: AND THEN WE'LL TRY AND DO IT OFF OF

WHICHEVER SIDE, UH, THE ANIMAL GIVES US.

NARRATOR: ARI IS IN A SMALL INFLATABLE BOAT,

LOOKING FOR A 66,000-POUND HUMPBACK WHALE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: THE FREQUENCY IS 151.333.

NARRATOR: AND HE HAS TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO ATTACH A

SUCTION MOUNT TO IT WITH A 23-FOOT METAL POLE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WE'RE IN WILHELMINA BAY, UH, ONE OF

THE LOCATIONS THAT WE'VE WORKED IN FOR A LONG TIME,

AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DEPLOY ONE OF THE VIDEO

RECORDING MULTI-SENSOR TAGS ON A HUMPBACK.

SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SEE IF THAT WHALE IS STILL THERE.

THE WHALES COME THERE BECAUSE THE KRILL IS THERE.

WHEN THEY'RE DONE FEEDING,

THEY'LL BASICALLY TAKE A NAP AT THE SURFACE.

ESSENTIALLY LOOK LIKE A LOG.

FOR US, IT'S A GREAT PLACE BECAUSE THE WHALES BEHAVE IN A

WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO APPROACH THEM TO PUT OUR TAGS ON.

I THINK I SEE SOMETHING OVER THERE.

THERE WE GO, RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF US.

OFF OUR BOW.

IF THAT GUY LOOKS LIKE HE STOPS AND LOGS FOR A WHILE,

WE'LL, UH, GO UP AND APPROACH HIM.

FIRST APPROACH, ALWAYS THE BEST.

I'M GOING TO COME EITHER FROM FIVE OR SEVEN O'CLOCK

AND JUST TRY AND GET THE TAG ON AS HIGH UP AS POSSIBLE.

IS THAT COOL?

NICK: YUP.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: ALL RIGHT.

AND JUST STAY, WHICHEVER WAY WE'RE GOING,

JUST KIND OF STAY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ZODIAC.

WE'RE BASICALLY PREPPED UP.

WE'RE GONNA GO SNEAK UP ON THIS GUY.

GO REAL SLOW.

THE KEY IS TO NOT WAKE THEM UP AS WE APPROACH

AND NOT HAVE THEM RESPOND TO US.

SO, IF WE CAN GET UP TO IT BY THE TIME IT'S STILL LOGGING,

WE SHOULD BE GOOD.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE FULL EXTENSION FOR THIS GUY.

NICK: YEP.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WHEN WE'RE APPROACHING THESE WHALES IT'S

DEFINITELY A HIGH-RISK KINDA SITUATION.

IF ITS FLUKE HIT THE ZODIAC,

IT WOULD FLIP US OVER WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE FIVE OR SIX MINUTES IN THAT WATER AT THE

MOST BEFORE HYPOTHERMIA WOULD SET IN AND

IT WOULD BE GAME OVER.

[BOAT ENGINE].

(BLEEP), HE'S GONNA HEAR IT.

NOW IT'S GONNA DIVE, (BLEEP).

IF THE WHALE RESPONDS TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

ITS GENERAL RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE TO DIVE.

THERE HE GOES.

SOMETIMES WE LOSE TRACK OF THE WHALE AND WE HAVE

NO WAY OF FINDING IT.

YOU MIGHT SEE A FOOTPRINT IN THE WATER FROM

WHERE IT KINDA KICKED AWAY, UH, BUT IT'S LIKE ONE AND DONE.

THIS SUCKS.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: I DID SEE A WHALE.

I DON'T SEE A LOGGING WHALE NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ONE WAS THAT WENT DOWN HERE.

NARRATOR: ARI AND HIS TEAM WERE CLOSE TO DEPLOYING

A SUCTION TAG, BUT THE WHALE THEY WERE

CHASING WENT UNDERWATER.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: IS THAT A LOGGING WHALE OUT THERE?

CAN'T TELL.

NO, IT'S NOT.

THESE ANIMALS MOVE OVER BIG DISTANCES VERY QUICKLY.

THEY'RE A REAL PAIN TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE

DIFFICULT TO FIND.

DO YOU GUYS WANT TO GET THE DRONE IN THE AIR?

DR. BEJDER: THIS WOULDN'T BE A BAD SPOT.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: YEAH.

NARRATOR: ARI'S UAV SPECIALIST, LARS,

PILOTS A DRONE THAT CAN GIVE THEM A BIRD'S EYE VIEW TO HELP

FIND A WHALE, AND GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT IT WHEN THEY DO.

DR. BEJDER: WE CAN USE THIS FOOTAGE TO LOOK AT

BODY SIZE OF THESE WHALES.

TYPICALLY, WE USUALLY FLY THEM IN WARMER CLIMATES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN IN ANTARCTICA FLYING IN

THESE COLDER CONDITIONS.

IS THE MOTOR WORKING ALRIGHT?

FRED: YEAH, IT SEEMS TO BE FINE.

DR. BEJDER: GOOD.

HOW'S YOUR FEED AT THIS DISTANCE?

FRED: IT'S GOOD.

DR. BEJDER: WHAT'S THAT?

FRED: THERE IT IS.

[WHALE NOISE].

DR. BEJDER: OH NICE, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: OH, HE'S GOT A BUDDY,

THAT'S WHY HE'S KIND OF FIRED UP!

DR. BEJDER: WE'LL TAKE ONE OF OUR VESSELS WITHIN

THE FRAME WITH THE WHALE.

THAT ALLOWS US TO SCALE THE SIZE OF THE WHALE TO THE BOAT

AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET US TO GET AS DIRECT

MEASUREMENTS OF HOW BIG THE WHALE IS.

[DRONE BUZZ].

NICELY DONE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: SWEET.

SO NICK, IT'LL BE NO DIFFERENT IF THE ANIMAL

IS NOT, UM, LOGGING.

NICK: OKAY.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: ALRIGHT, WE'LL APPROACH AS SLOW AS WE

CAN AND STILL BE MAKING UP SPEED ON IT.

NICK: SURE.

[WHALE NOISE].

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WHEN WE'RE APPROACHING A WHALE,

HUMAN SAFETY IS THE FIRST CONCERN.

THE THING YOU DON'T WANT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE

APPROACHING THESE ANIMALS IS STARTLE IT.

ANYWHERE YOU CAN PUT IT KIND OF IN THE TERRITORY.

NICK: ARE YOU GONNA?

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: I'M GONNA SWING AROUND, DON'T WORRY.

IT'S GONNA BE ON OUR PORT SIDE.

NICK: OKAY, SO WE'LL STILL GOING PORT.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: IF SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO TAKE THE TILLER,

I'LL TAG.

NICK: OKAY.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: I GOTCHA.

RADIO: HUGH, GO AHEAD.

*

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: NICE, SWEET!

CREW: NICE, DUDE.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: WE'RE HAPPY,

BUT THE WORK IS DEFINITELY NOT OVER.

THE SUCTION CUP TAGS ARCHIVE ALL THE DATA ON THEM

SO WE HAVE TO RETRIEVE THAT TAG TO GET ANYTHING BACK.

[WHALE NOISE].

OH, LOOK, SWEET.

THERE'S THE TAG!

AWESOME.

I THINK THESE ANIMALS HAVE A LOT MORE GOING ON THAN WE

UNDERSTAND OR THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO

BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND.

HOLY (BLEEP), MAN.

[CAMERA CLICKING].

THESE ANIMALS GET AS CURIOUS ABOUT US AS WE DO ABOUT THEM.

IT'S LOOKING AT YOU AND IT'S KIND OF WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE

DOING THERE AND WE'RE ASKING THE SAME KIND OF QUESTIONS.

LARS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER FLIGHT IN THE ANTARCTIC, RIGHT?

FOR THIS EQUIPMENT?

DR. BEJDER: YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

DR. FRIEDLAENDER: COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE EXCEPT FOR LARS TO

BUY US A COUPLE OF DRINKS.

DR. BEJDER: ONE BIG ONE.

[TEAM LAUGHS].

DR. HILL: OUT HERE, EVERY MINUTE COUNTS.

WE'VE GOT TO REALLY BE EFFICIENT TO GET THE JOB DONE.

NARRATOR: THE MT. EREBUS TEAM HAS INSTALLED

3 OUT OF THEIR 4 SENSORS,

AND RUN WIRING BACK TO THE MAIN COMPUTER.

DR. HILL: THIS WIND DIRECTION HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED.

AND THAT CLOUD IS NOT GOOD, AT ALL.

CAUSE THAT'S COMING UP OFF THE OPEN WATER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

NARRATOR: BUT THE SAME STORM THAT'S BEEN THREATENING

THE ROSS ICE SHELF TEAM IS INCREASING THE

WINDS AT HIGH ALTITUDE.

DR. HILL: HEY, DANNY, HAVE YOU NOTICED THE CHANGE IN WEATHER?

THAT CLOUD COULD LEAD TO A CAMPING TRIP.

IF THE WEATHER DESCENDS ON US WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S

NOT AROUND, YOU HAVE YOUR SURVIVAL BAGS,

WHICH HAVE TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS,

IN CASE YOU DON'T GET HOME THAT NIGHT.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

SCOTT BASE FROM GRAHAM.

RADIO: GO AHEAD.

DR. HILL: YEAH, IF YOU COULD GET HOLD OF SEAN,

CAN YOU TELL HIM TO RUSH OUT TO GET US RIGHT NOW?

RADIO: ROGER THAT.

DR. HILL: AH, HOW YOU DOING, MICHAL?

HEFF: HOW MANY MINUTES DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE

UNTIL YOU'RE DONE, GRAHAM.

DR. HILL: UH, WE PROBABLY GOT ANOTHER SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES.

THERE WE GO.

IT'S WORKING NOW.

HELICOPTER'S GETTING CLOSE.

[HELICOPTER ROTORS].

HEFF: ALRIGHT, WE ALL GOOD?

DR. HILL: WE'RE GOOD.

HEFF: OH YEAH!

TOM ARNOLD: WE'LL JUST PULL 'ROUND TO THE RIGHT

A COUPLE HUNDRED METERS AND, UH, SET UP.

ROB TEASDALE: YEAH.

I'LL PULL UP HERE GUYS, AND YOU CAN COME IN NICE

AND CLOSE BEHIND US.

DR. OHNEISER: ROGER!

NARRATOR: THE ROSS ICE SHELF TEAM IS NOW 40 MILES

SOUTH OF SCOTT BASE.

AFTER A LONG DAY OF DRIVING,

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP AND REST.

BUT SINCE THEY'RE THE FURTHEST TEAM SOUTH,

THE WORST OF THE STORM COULD BE JUST A FEW HOURS AWAY.

TOM ARNOLD: ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR

HOME FOR THE NIGHT.

SO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ESTABLISH A CAMP.

SO, LET'S SAY THIS IS OUR AREA HERE,

PREVAILING WIND'S GONNA COME IN FROM HERE.

I LIKE TO HAVE MY CAMP KIND OF IN A NICE, NEAT LINE, GOING.

THAT MAKES SENSE?

DR. OHNEISER: WE JUST WANT TO GET EVERYTHING UP AND GET

INSIDE, AND GET OUT OF THE WIND, 'CAUSE IT'S COLD.

DEFINITELY FEELS COLDER THAN AT SCOTT BASE.

SCOTT BASE IS GONNA FEEL TROPICAL COMPARED

TO THIS OUT HERE.

NARRATOR: ONCE THE STORM HITS,

THESE SCOTT POLAR TENTS WILL BE THEIR ONLY PROTECTION.

DR. OHNEISER: HOME SWEET HOME!

NARRATOR: THEY'RE NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE FIRST MEN

EVER TO EXPLORE ANTARCTICA,

ROBERT FALCON SCOTT.

THE DESIGN HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE HE USED THEM,

AND HE WAS IN ONE JUST LIKE IT RIGHT HERE ON

THE ROSS ICE SHELF.

ACCORDING TO HIS FINAL MESSAGE: "HAD WE LIVED,"

HE SAID, "I SHOULD HAVE HAD A TALE TO TELL OF THE

HARDIHOOD, ENDURANCE AND COURAGE OF MY COMPANIONS,

WHICH WOULD HAVE STIRRED THE HEART OF EVERY ENGLISHMAN."

THAT MESSAGE WAS DISCOVERED AFTER HE

AND THOSE COMPANIONS FROZE TO DEATH.

DR. OHNEISER: IT'S SUDDENLY QUITE A BIT COLDER.

*

DANNY UHLMANN: MT. EREBUS IS WEARING A NICE

HIGH WIND-SPEED HAT, LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE NUCLEAR BOMB.

DR. HILL: YUP, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE

BAD WEATHER COMES IN OUT OF NOWHERE.

AND, HALF HOUR LATER, GOTTEN REAL FLAT AND REAL DARK.

AND TURN AROUND AND COME HOME.

I THINK IT LOOKS WORSE NOW THAN IT DID WHEN WE

WERE IN THE HELICOPTER.

HERE'S THE OTHER TECHNICAL BAG.

THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THAT EVERYBODY'S SAFE AND

EVERYBODY COMES HOME.

IF THE HELICOPTER LEFT US, I'M PRETTY SURE WE WOULD

HAVE BEEN USING OUR, UH, OUR SURVIVAL BAGS.

TOMORROW, WE TRY AGAIN.

AND HOPE FOR A BIT MORE SUNSHINE.

*

MAJOR MCCOLL: I SEE THE WEATHER IS CHANGING.

THIS IS DUE TO A, UM, A LOW-PRESSURE AREA STARTING IN

THE ROSS SEA, AND IT'S DRAGGING SOME COLD AIR UP

FROM THE SOUTH POLE.

WITH THE LOW CLOUD COMING THROUGH INTO THE OPEN POSITION

THERE'S A LOT MORE ENERGY IN THE WIND.

THIS IS OUR BEST PROTECTION FOR OUT ON THE ROSS ICE SHELF.

AND THEY'RE DRIVING STRAIGHT INTO IT.

DR. OHNEISER: THE MAIN THING IS YOU JUST

HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

YOU CAN'T GUARANTEE THE WEATHER,

BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOU THAT MAKES THE DECISIONS HERE,

IT'S ANTARCTICA.