1 00:00:03,493 --> 00:00:06,530 NARRATOR: They cover two thirds of our planet. 2 00:00:08,453 --> 00:00:11,445 They hold clues to the mysteries of our past. 3 00:00:13,333 --> 00:00:16,166 And they're vital for our future survival. 4 00:00:19,013 --> 00:00:23,052 But the secrets of our oceans have remained largely undiscovered. 5 00:00:24,053 --> 00:00:26,521 PAUL: I am with a six gill shark. 6 00:00:26,613 --> 00:00:28,444 Yes! Yes! 7 00:00:29,573 --> 00:00:33,282 NARRATOR: Explorer Paul Rose is leading a team of ocean experts 8 00:00:33,373 --> 00:00:36,649 on a series of underwater science expeditions. 9 00:00:38,253 --> 00:00:41,165 For a year the team has voyaged across the world 10 00:00:41,253 --> 00:00:44,290 to Build up a global picture of our seas. 11 00:00:44,573 --> 00:00:47,451 PHILIPPE: We are doing some pretty uncharted research here. 12 00:00:47,533 --> 00:00:50,286 LUCY: That is psychedelically purple! 13 00:00:50,373 --> 00:00:52,443 We're here to try and understand 14 00:00:52,533 --> 00:00:55,684 the Earth's oceans and put them in a human scale. 15 00:00:58,373 --> 00:01:01,251 NARRATOR: Our oceans are changing faster than ever. 16 00:01:01,333 --> 00:01:04,211 LUCY: I’ve never seen ice like this before. 17 00:01:05,053 --> 00:01:06,691 NARRATOR: There's never Been a Better time 18 00:01:06,773 --> 00:01:09,765 to explore the last true wilderness on Earth. 19 00:01:21,173 --> 00:01:24,324 This expedition will explore one of the most hostile 20 00:01:24,413 --> 00:01:26,688 Bodies of water on the planet, 21 00:01:28,693 --> 00:01:31,332 the icy wastes of the Arctic Ocean. 22 00:01:35,053 --> 00:01:37,851 The water temperature hovers around zero. 23 00:01:38,413 --> 00:01:40,483 About 2 million square miles 24 00:01:40,573 --> 00:01:43,645 of the ocean's surface is permanently frozen. 25 00:01:49,853 --> 00:01:53,289 That much colder ice, much firmer, it's actually breaking off. 26 00:01:53,373 --> 00:01:55,443 -This is some serious... -Yeah, this is much better. 27 00:01:55,533 --> 00:01:58,331 -Like, massive chunks breaking off. -Yeah. 28 00:01:59,213 --> 00:02:03,001 NARRATOR: This is one of the least explored oceans on Earth. 29 00:02:04,613 --> 00:02:09,687 It's Barely a century since the first ships penetrated this ice-covered world. 30 00:02:18,293 --> 00:02:20,966 The Arctic Ocean spans the North Pole. 31 00:02:22,613 --> 00:02:26,492 It's the smallest and shallowest of the five great oceans. 32 00:02:27,453 --> 00:02:32,322 But more than any other it plays a vital role in regulating our climate. 33 00:02:34,333 --> 00:02:38,724 Only now, global warming is changing this region dramatically. 34 00:02:39,453 --> 00:02:43,207 It's heating up twice as fast as anywhere else on Earth. 35 00:02:45,813 --> 00:02:48,646 I think we're in a race with the Arctic Ocean. 36 00:02:48,733 --> 00:02:50,132 It's changing fast, 37 00:02:50,213 --> 00:02:53,489 so we need to learn and understand what's going on while we can, 38 00:02:53,573 --> 00:02:56,212 because within our lifetimes it's going to be unrecognisable. 39 00:03:01,173 --> 00:03:05,166 NARRATOR: The team has come to see what these changes will mean for life here, 40 00:03:05,253 --> 00:03:07,687 and how they could affect us all. 41 00:03:11,013 --> 00:03:14,403 Marine Biologist and oceanographer Toni Math 42 00:03:14,493 --> 00:03:16,882 dives Beneath the polar ice cap 43 00:03:17,773 --> 00:03:21,129 to reveal why it's vital to the health of our world. 44 00:03:22,973 --> 00:03:27,330 We kind of are completely dependent on this stuff to keep the planet cool. 45 00:03:31,573 --> 00:03:35,486 NARRATOR: Maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue examines how man 46 00:03:35,573 --> 00:03:38,645 has exploited this ocean for hundreds of years. 47 00:03:40,053 --> 00:03:41,850 It was diving, and it had blood, you know, 48 00:03:41,933 --> 00:03:43,889 it was bleeding, it was pulling boats. 49 00:03:43,973 --> 00:03:47,124 I mean, it must have been absolutely horrendous. 50 00:03:50,413 --> 00:03:53,007 NARRATOR: And environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, 51 00:03:53,093 --> 00:03:56,051 grandson of ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, 52 00:03:56,133 --> 00:04:00,729 investigates how the Arctic's uniquely adapted marine life is under threat. 53 00:04:02,653 --> 00:04:05,850 These rely on the ice. I mean, without the ice, 54 00:04:05,933 --> 00:04:07,924 these can't exist. 55 00:04:12,893 --> 00:04:16,203 NARRATOR: Ice is the Arctic Ocean's dominant feature. 56 00:04:16,293 --> 00:04:19,603 The way the ice forms and melts and changes and circulates around, 57 00:04:19,693 --> 00:04:23,322 it governs the Arctic Ocean, it defines the Arctic Ocean. 58 00:04:24,093 --> 00:04:28,052 NARRATOR: This ice is vital to help stop the Earth overheating. 59 00:04:28,533 --> 00:04:32,606 Up to 80% of the sunlight that hits the Bright, white surface 60 00:04:32,693 --> 00:04:34,923 is reflected Back into space. 61 00:04:36,973 --> 00:04:40,602 But climate change means the Arctic ice cap is shrinking. 62 00:04:42,533 --> 00:04:44,285 In the last 30 years, 63 00:04:44,373 --> 00:04:48,764 almost one and half million square miles of ice has disappeared. 64 00:04:50,173 --> 00:04:54,610 It's a major topic of concern what's happening here. 65 00:04:54,693 --> 00:04:56,729 You know, the ice melting 66 00:04:56,813 --> 00:05:00,522 and the implications that has for the rest of the world. 67 00:05:00,613 --> 00:05:04,970 NARRATOR: Understanding why and how fast the ice is melting is crucial. 68 00:05:05,893 --> 00:05:08,248 But as getting here is so challenging, 69 00:05:08,333 --> 00:05:12,645 the Oceans team will Be one of relatively few specialised expeditions, 70 00:05:13,053 --> 00:05:15,613 not only to study the ice from the surface, 71 00:05:15,693 --> 00:05:17,923 But to dive Beneath it. 72 00:05:18,013 --> 00:05:22,291 Most people's experience of the Arctic sea ice would be remotely. 73 00:05:22,373 --> 00:05:24,284 You know, scientists with remote sensing, 74 00:05:24,373 --> 00:05:27,445 you know, satellite imagery, computer models and all that. 75 00:05:27,533 --> 00:05:30,001 So even the best scientists in the world 76 00:05:30,093 --> 00:05:33,324 who are studying Arctic sea ice 77 00:05:33,413 --> 00:05:35,688 often wouldn't get the chance to come to this remote location 78 00:05:35,773 --> 00:05:37,923 and go diving underneath it. 79 00:05:40,733 --> 00:05:43,805 NARRATOR: Working Beneath the ice is hazardous. 80 00:05:44,573 --> 00:05:48,361 For this extreme diving, the team needs careful preparation. 81 00:05:51,333 --> 00:05:55,292 So the expedition Begins By travelling to the islands of Scabbard, 82 00:05:55,373 --> 00:05:58,729 midway Between the North Pole and the tip of Norway. 83 00:06:03,693 --> 00:06:08,642 Expedition leader Paul has Brought them to the relative safety of a frozen fjord 84 00:06:08,733 --> 00:06:12,851 to find out if they can handle the harsh conditions under the ice. 85 00:06:15,653 --> 00:06:17,211 Can't be messing around with ice diving. 86 00:06:17,293 --> 00:06:19,329 I mean, it's absolutely essential we get this done. 87 00:06:19,413 --> 00:06:24,965 We couldn't even think of going north into the polar pack to dive 88 00:06:25,053 --> 00:06:28,045 unless everything was 1 00%%% perfect. 89 00:06:30,093 --> 00:06:32,812 NARRATOR: It's not just the diving that's risky. 90 00:06:32,893 --> 00:06:37,011 Beside the ship are the paw prints of the Arctic's top predator, 91 00:06:37,093 --> 00:06:38,651 the polar Bear. 92 00:06:41,893 --> 00:06:44,009 The crew is on armed watch. 93 00:06:47,133 --> 00:06:50,489 We wouldn't dream of coming out on this ice without someone looking after us, 94 00:06:50,573 --> 00:06:54,725 keeping an eye on polar bears, so we have one person always 95 00:06:54,813 --> 00:06:57,327 with his rifle, and there he is today. 96 00:06:57,413 --> 00:07:01,042 And his only job, and not to be distracted, 97 00:07:01,133 --> 00:07:04,330 is to keep entirely a lookout for polar bear. 98 00:07:07,293 --> 00:07:11,332 NARRATOR: Paul has diving experience in these extreme conditions. 99 00:07:14,733 --> 00:07:18,089 For the rest of the team, it'll Be their first time. 100 00:07:20,853 --> 00:07:24,004 It's a big deal. It's a really big deal. You know, it's a real temperature shock. 101 00:07:24,093 --> 00:07:28,291 And although I'm really well insulated, it's still going to be a shock. 102 00:07:30,573 --> 00:07:33,212 NARRATOR: Everyone needs to wear a lifeline. 103 00:07:33,293 --> 00:07:35,682 If something goes wrong, we can get pulled out of the water, 104 00:07:35,773 --> 00:07:37,650 at least find our way back to the entrance, 105 00:07:37,733 --> 00:07:42,124 because, as you can see, if you don't come out the same way you went in, 106 00:07:43,413 --> 00:07:44,448 you're not coming out. 107 00:07:46,533 --> 00:07:49,286 NARRATOR: The team must spend 1 0 minutes Beneath the ice 108 00:07:49,373 --> 00:07:50,886 to test their equipment 109 00:07:50,973 --> 00:07:54,443 and their own ability to withstand the physical stress. 110 00:08:01,933 --> 00:08:04,925 The icy water puts a huge strain on the Body. 111 00:08:08,973 --> 00:08:13,728 Cold water robs it of heat 25 times faster than cold air. 112 00:08:16,733 --> 00:08:19,201 PHILIPPE: The first ever Arctic dive for me. 113 00:08:20,613 --> 00:08:22,012 It is cold. 114 00:08:27,253 --> 00:08:29,209 NARRATOR: If hypothermia sets in, 115 00:08:29,293 --> 00:08:32,683 the divers can lose coordination and Become confused. 116 00:08:34,733 --> 00:08:37,247 Under the ice, that could Be fatal. 117 00:08:42,653 --> 00:08:44,848 There's no margin for error. 118 00:08:57,293 --> 00:08:59,363 PAUL: We're slowly heading back. 119 00:09:00,933 --> 00:09:03,288 NARRATOR: The test dive is over. 120 00:09:03,973 --> 00:09:06,168 (PEOPLE ON BOAT ALL TALKING) 121 00:09:11,413 --> 00:09:14,450 Tired, though. Man, that's just 1 0 minutes. 122 00:09:14,533 --> 00:09:17,650 After 45 minutes of that, you'd just be dead, 123 00:09:17,733 --> 00:09:19,405 dead on your feet. 124 00:09:20,733 --> 00:09:24,646 Up above you is this weird mass of solid ice, 125 00:09:24,733 --> 00:09:27,531 that when you hit, you know, it's just... 126 00:09:28,653 --> 00:09:32,282 It's like you're knocking at a door, but nobody's going to let you out. 127 00:09:32,373 --> 00:09:35,763 NARRATOR: To understand the changes facing the Arctic Ocean, 128 00:09:35,853 --> 00:09:39,129 they'll need to dive underneath the polar ice cap, 129 00:09:39,213 --> 00:09:42,330 a solid mass of free-floating pack ice. 130 00:09:43,733 --> 00:09:47,248 The pack is so Very different to this. 131 00:09:47,933 --> 00:09:50,083 You know, this is a bit like diving in a swimming pool 132 00:09:50,173 --> 00:09:53,483 when you learn to dive, and that is like the real ocean. 133 00:09:53,573 --> 00:09:57,486 It's a big step from this to what I know the pack ice really holds for us. 134 00:09:57,573 --> 00:09:59,370 It's a big challenge. 135 00:10:05,933 --> 00:10:10,131 NARRATOR: The team leaves Scabbard and heads north towards the ice cap. 136 00:10:19,653 --> 00:10:21,325 It's a long way north. 137 00:10:21,413 --> 00:10:25,122 Seventy-eight north here, 80 north approximately there. 138 00:10:25,213 --> 00:10:29,331 And the mainland, Norway, you know, way down here to the south. 139 00:10:29,853 --> 00:10:32,208 Now, our plan is to head directly north, 140 00:10:32,293 --> 00:10:36,252 and we hit the ice here, we'll be working through the whole pack. 141 00:10:36,333 --> 00:10:40,167 We want that Very cold water, minus one or something, at least. 142 00:10:40,253 --> 00:10:43,165 It will be some of the most extreme sights in the world 143 00:10:43,253 --> 00:10:47,804 to do, you know, oceanography, do science, do diving, do our studies. 144 00:10:47,893 --> 00:10:51,647 The ice has that incredible power, you know, so it can be calm where we are, 145 00:10:51,733 --> 00:10:55,806 but that pack is just moving and pushing and grinding with incredible force. 146 00:10:55,893 --> 00:10:59,522 As I said, it's one of the ultimate extreme environments. 147 00:11:00,533 --> 00:11:03,730 NARRATOR: This far north, the tilt of the Earth's axis 148 00:11:03,813 --> 00:11:07,488 means that for four months of the year, the sun never sets. 149 00:11:13,693 --> 00:11:18,608 They use the 24-hour daylight to force their way into the polar pack. 150 00:11:28,813 --> 00:11:31,043 -There's about 20 nautical miles left. -Oh, okay. 151 00:11:31,133 --> 00:11:33,522 -So it's going to take us a while... -Especially with ice like this. 152 00:11:33,613 --> 00:11:38,209 And it's gradually going to get tighter and gradually going to get thicker. 153 00:11:52,453 --> 00:11:55,809 NARRATOR: After eight hours, expedition leader Paul 154 00:11:55,893 --> 00:11:59,886 thinks they've penetrated far enough to start their exploration. 155 00:12:01,293 --> 00:12:03,853 Well, we're at 80 degrees, 1 4 minutes. 156 00:12:03,933 --> 00:12:06,652 So it's, you know, 600 and something miles from the North Pole. 157 00:12:06,733 --> 00:12:08,963 -Wow. -Nice feeling, isn't it? 158 00:12:10,493 --> 00:12:14,406 NARRATOR: This huge mass of ice is floating on the ocean's surface, 159 00:12:14,493 --> 00:12:16,961 and can drift several miles a day. 160 00:12:20,613 --> 00:12:24,128 The Boat must Be anchored to it so they move together. 161 00:12:27,293 --> 00:12:29,966 As global warming raises the air temperature, 162 00:12:30,053 --> 00:12:32,283 the surface of the ice melts. 163 00:12:33,893 --> 00:12:38,489 But this alone may not account for the amount of ice we know is Being lost. 164 00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:47,292 So Paul and Toni are going to dive Beneath the polar cap 165 00:12:47,373 --> 00:12:51,082 to see what else might Be causing this ice cover to shrink. 166 00:12:54,373 --> 00:12:56,648 First thing we want to do is get under there 167 00:12:56,733 --> 00:13:00,043 and find out if there's any evidence of how it's formed, 168 00:13:00,133 --> 00:13:01,805 if there are features we can look at, 169 00:13:01,893 --> 00:13:05,044 if there's any evidence or any signs of melting. 170 00:13:05,253 --> 00:13:08,450 And just really get underneath and actually see the ice for what it is, 171 00:13:08,533 --> 00:13:12,924 from a different perspective, looking up rather than looking down on it. 172 00:13:26,373 --> 00:13:28,682 PAUL: Let's hang on to the ice. 173 00:13:38,213 --> 00:13:41,250 TOONI: Well, it's Very, Very dark here. 174 00:13:42,853 --> 00:13:46,243 It's about the darkest it's been since I’ve been here 175 00:13:47,213 --> 00:13:49,647 in this land of 24-hour daylight. 176 00:13:52,813 --> 00:13:56,488 NARRATOR: Unlike icebergs, which come from freshwater glaciers, 177 00:13:56,573 --> 00:14:01,124 this pack ice forms when it gets so cold that the ocean freezes. 178 00:14:07,293 --> 00:14:12,162 TOONI: The ice only forms at minus 1 .8 degrees centigrade 179 00:14:12,693 --> 00:14:15,332 because of all the salt in the water. 180 00:14:17,373 --> 00:14:20,922 So the ice is formed from these tiny, tiny crystals, 181 00:14:21,013 --> 00:14:23,891 kind of forms into this huge mass of ice. 182 00:14:26,573 --> 00:14:30,452 NARRATOR: This sea ice can grow as much as three metres thick. 183 00:14:34,093 --> 00:14:38,086 The shapes underneath reveal how different pieces drift together 184 00:14:38,173 --> 00:14:40,289 to Become a vast ice sheet. 185 00:14:44,773 --> 00:14:47,685 PAUL: As you can see, this has been formed 186 00:14:47,773 --> 00:14:52,642 by these huge sea ice floes, just pushing together. 187 00:14:52,733 --> 00:14:54,803 It's a bit like plate tectonics, you know, 188 00:14:54,893 --> 00:14:58,852 where great geological plates slide together and form mountains. 189 00:14:58,933 --> 00:15:02,892 When these things slide together, they form great ridges above, 190 00:15:03,133 --> 00:15:06,284 and along with it these fabulous keels down below. 191 00:15:08,773 --> 00:15:11,765 NARRATOR: Keels can extend down to 40 metres. 192 00:15:12,373 --> 00:15:14,443 They help stabilise the ice floes 193 00:15:14,533 --> 00:15:17,445 and stop strong winds from Breaking them up. 194 00:15:18,613 --> 00:15:22,322 But there are signs that the keels are also shrinking, 195 00:15:22,413 --> 00:15:26,770 causing ice floes to Break up more easily and melt even faster. 196 00:15:30,213 --> 00:15:33,603 PAUL: Hey, Toni. You see these features here, Toni? 197 00:15:34,613 --> 00:15:36,729 This is where it's melting. 198 00:15:38,293 --> 00:15:40,568 NARRATOR: As it does, the underside of the ice 199 00:15:40,653 --> 00:15:43,565 develops a series of depressions and ridges. 200 00:15:48,893 --> 00:15:52,806 These are characteristic signs that the ice is melting underneath, 201 00:15:52,893 --> 00:15:54,611 as well as on top. 202 00:15:56,893 --> 00:15:59,407 As ice cover decreases in the summer, 203 00:15:59,493 --> 00:16:02,530 the dark ocean absorbs more heat from the sun. 204 00:16:03,653 --> 00:16:08,681 The water warms up and Begins to melt the underside of the ice. 205 00:16:11,053 --> 00:16:12,805 TOONI: There are bubbles hitting the ceiling. 206 00:16:12,893 --> 00:16:15,612 It's just finding all the little pockets, isn't it? 207 00:16:15,693 --> 00:16:19,163 And if you stick your hand up there, you lose your hand. 208 00:16:25,533 --> 00:16:28,286 NARRATOR: Some of this melting is seasonal. 209 00:16:28,373 --> 00:16:32,446 What's changing now is how much ice is disappearing. 210 00:16:34,893 --> 00:16:38,249 TOONI: The whole of the Arctic ice cap is shrinking. 211 00:16:41,293 --> 00:16:44,091 And it's a difficult thought to have 212 00:16:44,173 --> 00:16:48,405 when you're in minus 1 degree centigrade water 213 00:16:48,493 --> 00:16:50,404 and surrounded by ice. 214 00:17:00,173 --> 00:17:02,243 NARRATOR: This shrinking is so important, 215 00:17:02,333 --> 00:17:06,611 it's Being monitored By scientists around the world using satellites. 216 00:17:08,853 --> 00:17:12,050 But there are relatively few direct measurements. 217 00:17:12,813 --> 00:17:17,967 So Philippe and Lucy plan to head out on to the ice to measure its thickness. 218 00:17:19,213 --> 00:17:21,488 Measuring stick, some buckets. 219 00:17:25,373 --> 00:17:26,692 NARRATOR: The thickness will indicate 220 00:17:26,773 --> 00:17:29,970 whether this ice is likely to survive the summer. 221 00:17:31,693 --> 00:17:34,844 The measurements they take will Be sent to NASA. 222 00:17:36,373 --> 00:17:39,331 For a few decades now NASA's been using satellite technology 223 00:17:39,413 --> 00:17:41,085 to track changes in the Arctic, 224 00:17:41,173 --> 00:17:45,052 changes in the area covered by ice and the thickness of the ice. 225 00:17:45,133 --> 00:17:49,490 But they need the truth to Verify that data with information on the ground. 226 00:17:51,693 --> 00:17:53,729 So that's what we're doing. We'll be sending this straight to them. 227 00:18:06,293 --> 00:18:11,208 NARRATOR: Only ice over two metres thick is likely to make it through the summer. 228 00:18:13,093 --> 00:18:14,412 To measure the thickness 229 00:18:14,493 --> 00:18:17,963 Philippe and Lucy need to drill right through the ice. 230 00:18:24,173 --> 00:18:25,322 Whoa! 231 00:18:26,213 --> 00:18:27,885 Pop that through. 232 00:18:28,973 --> 00:18:30,929 We’ve essentially got to measure 233 00:18:31,013 --> 00:18:33,607 the depth of the hole that we’ve just drilled. 234 00:18:33,693 --> 00:18:37,572 And this, if we lower this down, 235 00:18:37,653 --> 00:18:41,407 hopefully the bar will catch on the other side of the ice. 236 00:18:41,493 --> 00:18:43,006 The metal bar's horizontal out, 237 00:18:43,093 --> 00:18:45,084 so it's sitting against the bottom of the ice. 238 00:18:45,173 --> 00:18:47,289 -I think we got it. It's locked up. -And that's the depth. 239 00:18:47,373 --> 00:18:49,284 -I can handle that, right. -Oh, I can feel them. 240 00:18:49,373 --> 00:18:53,002 One, yeah... So it's one metre. And then... 241 00:18:53,453 --> 00:18:57,287 The middle of this thing to that point is 65. 242 00:18:57,853 --> 00:18:59,969 So we’ve got one metre 65. 243 00:19:00,773 --> 00:19:02,445 NARRATOR: That's relatively thin, 244 00:19:02,533 --> 00:19:05,605 and more likely to melt over the summer months. 245 00:19:07,693 --> 00:19:10,161 But one measurement is not enough. 246 00:19:10,773 --> 00:19:13,446 They need to drill several holes, to take an average. 247 00:19:13,533 --> 00:19:16,286 I think that's it. So that's one metre... 248 00:19:16,373 --> 00:19:18,204 -One metre 76? -Yeah. 249 00:19:21,973 --> 00:19:23,611 Okay, that's 1 .56, 250 00:19:23,693 --> 00:19:27,606 so basically all four holes have been less than two metres. 251 00:19:27,693 --> 00:19:30,890 So that's, what, less than six foot or something. 252 00:19:31,213 --> 00:19:35,525 NARRATOR: The results are consistent with those of other scientists. 253 00:19:35,613 --> 00:19:39,765 The majority of the ice in the Arctic is now comparatively thin, 254 00:19:40,093 --> 00:19:42,971 and more likely to disappear in the summer. 255 00:19:44,973 --> 00:19:47,248 And this loss is accelerating. 256 00:19:48,173 --> 00:19:51,483 In 2007 and 2008, 257 00:19:52,173 --> 00:19:54,368 the extent of the summer sea ice 258 00:19:54,453 --> 00:19:57,092 was the smallest since records Began. 259 00:19:57,853 --> 00:19:58,888 The less ice coverage there is, 260 00:19:58,973 --> 00:20:01,851 the more the Arctic will absorb solar radiation in the summertime, 261 00:20:01,933 --> 00:20:05,084 the warmer it'll get, the more ice will melt. 262 00:20:05,173 --> 00:20:07,403 NARRATOR: It's a vicious circle. 263 00:20:07,493 --> 00:20:10,007 As the reflective sea ice disappears, 264 00:20:10,093 --> 00:20:13,608 the water warms up and more ice melts. 265 00:20:13,733 --> 00:20:18,284 This leaves the ocean even more exposed to the heating effects of the sun. 266 00:20:19,733 --> 00:20:22,088 And the whole process speeds up. 267 00:20:22,773 --> 00:20:27,085 And as the Arctic gets warmer, this accelerates global warming. 268 00:20:28,813 --> 00:20:31,281 This isn't something that's going to happen down the road, 269 00:20:31,373 --> 00:20:33,568 something that's going to happen to our children, 270 00:20:33,653 --> 00:20:37,328 going to happen in the future. This is happening to us now. 271 00:20:39,133 --> 00:20:40,691 NARRATOR: There's Been permanent ice cover 272 00:20:40,773 --> 00:20:43,651 in the Arctic Ocean for thousands of years. 273 00:20:44,093 --> 00:20:46,561 But as this NASA animation shows, 274 00:20:46,653 --> 00:20:49,963 the ice cover in the summer has Been changing fast. 275 00:20:50,333 --> 00:20:55,566 In the 1 980s, it was receding By an average of about 3% per decade. 276 00:20:56,173 --> 00:20:58,528 Now it's over 1 %. 277 00:20:59,933 --> 00:21:02,003 I mean, there will come a time 278 00:21:02,093 --> 00:21:06,325 when that will be a Very, Very different animation, 279 00:21:06,413 --> 00:21:10,167 because all of this ocean will probably be blue come summertime. 280 00:21:10,253 --> 00:21:13,290 So, that's the projection. I mean, it's all done on computer models. 281 00:21:13,373 --> 00:21:16,843 So it is, you know, computer modelling is an attempt to predict the future, 282 00:21:16,933 --> 00:21:19,208 which is incredibly difficult. 283 00:21:20,213 --> 00:21:23,808 NARRATOR: One estimate suggests the Arctic Ocean could Be ice-free 284 00:21:23,893 --> 00:21:26,612 in the summer By 201 3. 285 00:21:27,493 --> 00:21:31,805 That would mean the loss of almost 2 million square miles of sea ice. 286 00:21:33,293 --> 00:21:36,842 Well, you know, you see those images of polar bears floating on bits of ice, 287 00:21:36,933 --> 00:21:38,605 and you just... 288 00:21:39,413 --> 00:21:42,769 It's not... It doesn't really become tangible 289 00:21:42,853 --> 00:21:45,162 until you're actually in it and witnessing it 290 00:21:45,253 --> 00:21:48,962 and seeing images like this, and then you realise how, in fact, 291 00:21:49,053 --> 00:21:52,250 you know, the potential is that it's going to really impact on all of us. 292 00:21:52,333 --> 00:21:55,370 The fundamental importance of this ocean to the rest of the world 293 00:21:55,453 --> 00:21:57,808 just really can't be overstated. 294 00:21:58,613 --> 00:22:00,410 If the ice keeps melting, 295 00:22:00,493 --> 00:22:04,247 if the Arctic becomes this Very, Very much warmer ocean 296 00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:06,244 the way that scientists are predicting, 297 00:22:06,333 --> 00:22:09,848 then that is going to change the entire planet. 298 00:22:14,093 --> 00:22:18,723 NARRATOR: A warmer Arctic Ocean would not just contribute to global warming. 299 00:22:19,293 --> 00:22:22,091 It would affect the world in other ways. 300 00:22:22,453 --> 00:22:25,126 Salty water, cooled By the Arctic, 301 00:22:25,213 --> 00:22:28,285 helps to drive global ocean circulation, 302 00:22:28,373 --> 00:22:31,843 a conveyor Belt of currents that connects every ocean. 303 00:22:33,493 --> 00:22:38,362 Cooling salty water from the Arctic region sinks to the ocean depths. 304 00:22:39,893 --> 00:22:44,091 It moves towards the equator, mixes with warmer currents, 305 00:22:44,173 --> 00:22:48,246 and eventually Becomes lighter and flows Back towards the pole. 306 00:22:49,853 --> 00:22:52,128 This does two important things. 307 00:22:52,773 --> 00:22:54,843 It helps to keep our oceans alive 308 00:22:54,933 --> 00:22:58,608 By moving oxygenated water and nutrients around the planet. 309 00:22:59,653 --> 00:23:04,283 And it regulates our weather By transferring heat around the globe. 310 00:23:05,173 --> 00:23:08,483 If it's affected, it could radically change climate patterns 311 00:23:08,573 --> 00:23:12,122 and have an impact on the health of our oceans worldwide. 312 00:23:15,293 --> 00:23:18,285 And it all Begins under the Arctic ice. 313 00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:25,601 The team's preparing for their next mission, 314 00:23:25,693 --> 00:23:28,605 to search for what's living Beneath the ice. 315 00:23:29,893 --> 00:23:32,771 But then something catches their attention. 316 00:23:35,133 --> 00:23:36,885 Partway ready for a dive, 317 00:23:36,973 --> 00:23:40,602 and the bridge watch called out, there's a polar bear coming. 318 00:23:40,693 --> 00:23:44,083 He's come on Quick, so it's all stopped for a moment. 319 00:23:48,413 --> 00:23:50,483 This is the icon of the Arctic, though, finally. 320 00:23:50,573 --> 00:23:52,325 I think I would have been pretty disappointed 321 00:23:52,413 --> 00:23:54,210 if I had come all the way up here and not seen a polar bear. 322 00:23:54,293 --> 00:23:56,329 You and me both, mate. 323 00:23:56,413 --> 00:24:00,691 NARRATOR: The polar Bear is the world's largest terrestrial carnivore. 324 00:24:00,773 --> 00:24:05,972 Males can Be up to 1 0 feet tall and weigh close to 800 kilograms. 325 00:24:06,653 --> 00:24:10,328 They have that slow, ponderous kind of, you know, lolloping kind of walk, 326 00:24:10,413 --> 00:24:12,722 but they cover a huge distance. 327 00:24:13,373 --> 00:24:16,683 NARRATOR: Polar Bears are well adapted to Arctic conditions. 328 00:24:16,773 --> 00:24:18,764 They have two layers of fur, 329 00:24:18,853 --> 00:24:21,890 and Black skin that absorbs heat from the sun. 330 00:24:22,453 --> 00:24:25,126 Beneath this is 1 0 centimetres of fat. 331 00:24:27,773 --> 00:24:30,446 So they can have trouble keeping cool. 332 00:24:31,853 --> 00:24:33,332 But it's so cold out here. 333 00:24:33,413 --> 00:24:36,450 But the reason they go so slowly is they're so well insulated. 334 00:24:36,533 --> 00:24:39,809 Here we are, just all freezing and this polar bear has to go slowly 335 00:24:39,893 --> 00:24:41,690 so it doesn't overheat. 336 00:24:41,773 --> 00:24:43,286 That's absolutely crazy. 337 00:24:45,453 --> 00:24:47,648 NARRATOR: But Being so highly specialised 338 00:24:47,733 --> 00:24:51,521 makes them among the most vulnerable creatures in the Arctic. 339 00:24:52,373 --> 00:24:56,764 The polar bear is absolutely dependent on these ice floes to exist. 340 00:24:59,133 --> 00:25:03,092 NARRATOR: Today there are about 25,000 polar Bears. 341 00:25:04,013 --> 00:25:08,291 But as the ice cap recedes, the population could decline fast. 342 00:25:09,213 --> 00:25:12,683 That's Because the ice is a valuable source of food. 343 00:25:15,253 --> 00:25:17,448 You look around, and it kind of looks like a big white desert. 344 00:25:17,533 --> 00:25:19,489 But it's actually a Very diverse ecosystem. 345 00:25:19,573 --> 00:25:22,883 And it's critical to understand what's going on, 346 00:25:22,973 --> 00:25:27,330 what lives here on the fringes of existence. 347 00:25:30,173 --> 00:25:33,802 NARRATOR: Life in the Arctic depends on the spring Bloom. 348 00:25:34,413 --> 00:25:37,325 It occurs after months of complete darkness. 349 00:25:38,213 --> 00:25:42,809 When the sunlight Begins to reappear, there's an intense growth of algae. 350 00:25:45,133 --> 00:25:47,283 But this Bloom is short-lived. 351 00:25:47,373 --> 00:25:50,729 To survive, life here needs to store enough energy 352 00:25:50,813 --> 00:25:53,611 to make it through the long, dark winter. 353 00:25:57,493 --> 00:25:59,927 Toni and Paul plan to search for the creatures 354 00:26:00,013 --> 00:26:03,050 that provide the energy the Arctic relies upon, 355 00:26:03,973 --> 00:26:07,045 to see how they cope with the severe conditions. 356 00:26:07,133 --> 00:26:09,408 It's like, to me, it seems like the most extreme environment, 357 00:26:09,493 --> 00:26:13,532 living in minus degree centigrade waters, just underneath the ice. 358 00:26:13,613 --> 00:26:15,604 And there is life that's perfectly adapted 359 00:26:15,693 --> 00:26:17,092 to those Very specific conditions. 360 00:26:17,173 --> 00:26:19,528 Yeah, life at the edges is so fascinating, isn't it? 361 00:26:24,013 --> 00:26:28,723 NARRATOR: The whole team gears up to work on the surface and Beneath the ice. 362 00:26:32,373 --> 00:26:37,322 Paul and Toni will search underneath the ice cap for amphipods and copepods, 363 00:26:37,413 --> 00:26:41,088 the minuscule creatures which help support this ecosystem. 364 00:26:42,093 --> 00:26:44,926 TOONI: Cold! PAUL: (LAUGHING) A bit windy, isn't it? 365 00:26:45,013 --> 00:26:46,605 NARRATOR: They're hard to see, 366 00:26:46,693 --> 00:26:49,332 so once these crustaceans have Been collected, 367 00:26:49,413 --> 00:26:52,803 Philippe and Lucy will identify them on the surface. 368 00:26:56,773 --> 00:27:00,766 The data they collect will Be sent to the Census of Marine Life, 369 00:27:01,493 --> 00:27:05,691 a survey Being conducted By hundreds of scientists around the world. 370 00:27:14,093 --> 00:27:17,483 But first they've got to find the tiny creatures. 371 00:27:23,373 --> 00:27:24,567 PAUL: Yeah, it's pretty hard. 372 00:27:24,653 --> 00:27:27,884 For a start, our bubbles, I'm blowing them around. 373 00:27:28,293 --> 00:27:32,923 Maybe that will dislodge them on the little crevices, you know. 374 00:27:39,733 --> 00:27:41,963 Oh, yeah, there you go, look. 375 00:27:42,453 --> 00:27:44,887 I can see some. Over there, look. 376 00:27:45,613 --> 00:27:49,083 Get it, go on. That's it. You got it. 377 00:27:54,253 --> 00:27:58,292 NARRATOR: To survive here, life must adapt to the icy conditions. 378 00:28:01,653 --> 00:28:05,441 Creatures here have got proteins in their blood 379 00:28:05,533 --> 00:28:07,967 that act as a kind of antifreeze. 380 00:28:08,213 --> 00:28:12,968 So they can actually keep on moving and working in these subzero temperatures. 381 00:28:16,453 --> 00:28:18,683 NARRATOR: The water is clouded with algae, 382 00:28:18,773 --> 00:28:22,243 as the expedition has arrived during the spring Bloom. 383 00:28:24,493 --> 00:28:27,724 It's the ideal time to track down the crustaceans. 384 00:28:32,013 --> 00:28:34,243 Thank you. Fantastic. 385 00:28:36,933 --> 00:28:41,006 NARRATOR: Because there is still so much to learn about the fauna of the Arctic, 386 00:28:41,093 --> 00:28:44,005 Philippe is keen to document what they find. 387 00:28:44,293 --> 00:28:47,251 -Oh, yeah, you did. Well done. -Couple more? Oh, yeah, definitely. 388 00:28:47,333 --> 00:28:50,006 Well, we’ve definitely got a few species of amphipods 389 00:28:50,093 --> 00:28:53,483 and definitely some copepods in here. 390 00:28:53,933 --> 00:28:57,926 We should get them out of there Quickly because the amphipods eat the copepods. 391 00:28:58,013 --> 00:29:01,722 The last several years of work that I’ve been doing, in terms of conservation, 392 00:29:01,813 --> 00:29:03,326 I’ve heard so much about amphipods. 393 00:29:03,413 --> 00:29:06,450 I mean, these are like the classic base of the food chain in the Arctic. 394 00:29:06,533 --> 00:29:09,809 I mean, grey whales travel 6,000 miles to feed on these, 395 00:29:09,893 --> 00:29:11,884 all the way from Mexico. 396 00:29:14,373 --> 00:29:18,366 NARRATOR: And living along with the amphipods are these tiny copepods, 397 00:29:18,453 --> 00:29:20,648 just a few millimetres long. 398 00:29:22,213 --> 00:29:25,762 These species hold the secret to survival in the Arctic. 399 00:29:26,293 --> 00:29:29,524 They feed on algae and convert it into fat. 400 00:29:31,773 --> 00:29:36,563 Fat acts like a Biological Battery, a long-term store of energy. 401 00:29:37,493 --> 00:29:41,964 So everything living here relies on fat to get through the Arctic winter. 402 00:29:46,693 --> 00:29:50,288 Copepods live underneath the ice, feeding on the algae, 403 00:29:50,373 --> 00:29:54,002 sometimes only for a few months a year, and they build up these fat layers 404 00:29:54,093 --> 00:29:57,563 and can go for eight to 1 0 months without feeding. 405 00:29:57,973 --> 00:30:00,567 The fact that these things are so high in fat 406 00:30:00,653 --> 00:30:03,008 means that they can pretty much fuel 407 00:30:03,093 --> 00:30:06,210 the rest of the food chain in the Arctic. 408 00:30:06,293 --> 00:30:09,444 And that fat gets passed on up the food chain, 409 00:30:09,533 --> 00:30:12,491 up to the fish, fish gets eaten 410 00:30:12,573 --> 00:30:15,531 by the seals, the whales, the polar bears. 411 00:30:15,613 --> 00:30:18,491 So fat is an incredibly important currency. 412 00:30:19,053 --> 00:30:21,442 And these are the basis of the food chain. 413 00:30:21,533 --> 00:30:24,411 I mean, this is such an important creature. 414 00:30:26,373 --> 00:30:30,651 NARRATOR: No one knows how many different species of amphipods exist. 415 00:30:32,293 --> 00:30:34,761 This world is so little explored 416 00:30:34,853 --> 00:30:38,004 that even a single sample can uncover a find. 417 00:30:38,933 --> 00:30:40,844 PHILIPPE: That's a new one. It's Very different than the others. 418 00:30:40,933 --> 00:30:43,606 -Yeah, it is. -It's definitely an amphipod. 419 00:30:45,813 --> 00:30:48,691 NARRATOR: DNA analysis will Be needed to Be certain 420 00:30:48,773 --> 00:30:51,048 But this may Be a new species. 421 00:30:52,973 --> 00:30:55,646 You know, people just think we’ve explored it all, 422 00:30:55,733 --> 00:30:57,689 and there's just so little we actually know. 423 00:30:57,773 --> 00:30:58,888 I know. 424 00:30:58,973 --> 00:31:00,850 And here's just a case in point, perfect example. 425 00:31:00,933 --> 00:31:02,286 Absolutely. 426 00:31:02,693 --> 00:31:05,412 -Now then... -Good work, you all, I’ve got to say. 427 00:31:05,493 --> 00:31:06,642 Let's have a look. 428 00:31:06,733 --> 00:31:08,928 We’ve got a couple things laid out here for you. 429 00:31:09,013 --> 00:31:10,082 Oh, blimey! 430 00:31:10,173 --> 00:31:12,767 See, he's really big. I mean, look what you found. 431 00:31:12,853 --> 00:31:14,172 These big amphipods. 432 00:31:14,253 --> 00:31:19,122 These are the ones that walk upside down underneath the ice, I was watching them. 433 00:31:19,333 --> 00:31:21,051 NARRATOR: But as the ice shrinks, 434 00:31:21,133 --> 00:31:25,092 these species could disappear faster than we can discover them. 435 00:31:25,853 --> 00:31:27,252 These rely on the ice. 436 00:31:27,333 --> 00:31:31,167 I mean, without the ice these can't exist. 437 00:31:31,533 --> 00:31:33,489 And while that doesn't mean necessarily that, 438 00:31:33,573 --> 00:31:36,804 you know, the whole ecosystem will collapse, 439 00:31:36,893 --> 00:31:38,849 but it definitely means it'll be changing. 440 00:31:38,933 --> 00:31:42,403 You'll see a shift in biodiversity, and we don't know what that means. 441 00:31:42,493 --> 00:31:45,803 TOONI: A hugely underrated resource in the Arctic ecosystem. 442 00:31:45,893 --> 00:31:48,168 Nobody's ever interested in invertebrates. 443 00:31:48,253 --> 00:31:51,882 Invertebrates hold the key to the giant, charismatic mega fauna 444 00:31:51,973 --> 00:31:54,282 that we're all so concerned about. 445 00:31:54,373 --> 00:31:58,924 NARRATOR: If the ice retreats, we could lose many of these tiny creatures. 446 00:31:59,653 --> 00:32:02,611 Then all life here will Be threatened. 447 00:32:09,653 --> 00:32:13,612 The team is now heading south, Back to the islands of Scabbard. 448 00:32:15,013 --> 00:32:17,846 Maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue 449 00:32:17,933 --> 00:32:20,970 wants to explore the remains of a global industry 450 00:32:21,053 --> 00:32:24,090 that almost wiped out entire species here, 451 00:32:26,773 --> 00:32:28,047 whaling. 452 00:32:32,853 --> 00:32:36,289 It's estimated that in the last 400 years, 453 00:32:36,373 --> 00:32:40,252 more than two and a half million whales were killed worldwide. 454 00:32:53,493 --> 00:32:57,372 This channel would have been absolutely teeming with whales. 455 00:32:57,453 --> 00:32:58,932 -It's kind of incomprehensible now. -I know. 456 00:32:59,013 --> 00:33:01,322 It completely is. Completely is. 457 00:33:03,973 --> 00:33:08,171 NARRATOR: This is one of the places where the Arctic industry Began. 458 00:33:09,013 --> 00:33:13,484 In the early 1 600s, the Dutch and English came here in droves 459 00:33:13,573 --> 00:33:16,724 to satisfy the growing demand for whale oil. 460 00:33:17,653 --> 00:33:21,407 It led to the wholesale slaughter of these ocean giants. 461 00:33:22,893 --> 00:33:24,451 So there was Quite a lot of competition, actually, 462 00:33:24,533 --> 00:33:26,842 particularly at the beginning, the early 1 600s. 463 00:33:26,933 --> 00:33:31,211 You know, they were actually fighting for the right to catch the whales here, 464 00:33:31,293 --> 00:33:34,126 particularly in somewhere like this fjord. 465 00:33:35,213 --> 00:33:37,568 NARRATOR: These waters in northern Scabbard 466 00:33:37,653 --> 00:33:40,087 attracted huge numbers of whales. 467 00:33:40,893 --> 00:33:43,930 The whales come in here because of the slightly shallow waters to feed, 468 00:33:44,013 --> 00:33:47,085 so, I mean, it was just a prime hunting area. 469 00:33:54,893 --> 00:33:58,568 NARRATOR: A Dutch settlement of up to 200 people grew here. 470 00:33:58,653 --> 00:34:01,531 It was called Siedenburg, Blubber town. 471 00:34:05,053 --> 00:34:09,888 I mean, just look at this, and look out into the fjord. 472 00:34:10,773 --> 00:34:14,561 I mean, you can just imagine the 1 7th century ships moored up. 473 00:34:14,653 --> 00:34:16,245 They would have been out there in the deeper waters, 474 00:34:16,333 --> 00:34:20,849 and then the smaller whalers chasing this living whale. 475 00:34:23,413 --> 00:34:26,769 NARRATOR: Contemporary paintings captured the scene. 476 00:34:27,813 --> 00:34:29,769 The first person would harpoon it. 477 00:34:29,853 --> 00:34:31,571 And they needed as many harpoons... 478 00:34:31,653 --> 00:34:35,168 Every time it came up, you had to get another one in it. 479 00:34:37,733 --> 00:34:41,487 And eventually, the thing would just get exhausted from the fact it was diving, 480 00:34:41,573 --> 00:34:44,690 it had blood, you know, it was bleeding, it was pulling boats. 481 00:34:44,773 --> 00:34:47,731 I mean, it must have been an absolutely horrendous... 482 00:34:47,813 --> 00:34:50,566 -Bloodbath. -I know, completely and utterly. 483 00:34:53,373 --> 00:34:55,170 NARRATOR: It wasn't just the number of whales 484 00:34:55,253 --> 00:34:57,813 that made them choose this location. 485 00:34:58,893 --> 00:35:00,804 One of the main reasons that they actually settled here 486 00:35:00,893 --> 00:35:04,727 was because of this Very shallow, sloping shoreline here. 487 00:35:04,813 --> 00:35:09,443 So it was like a natural ramp, in a way, to winch the whales onto the beach. 488 00:35:12,413 --> 00:35:15,450 NARRATOR: Once on land, the Blubber could Be cut away, 489 00:35:15,533 --> 00:35:19,208 Boiled down into the precious oil and sent Back to Europe. 490 00:35:20,693 --> 00:35:24,766 This was the Beginning of an industry that continued for hundreds of years, 491 00:35:24,853 --> 00:35:27,162 Becoming more and more intense. 492 00:35:28,933 --> 00:35:32,164 Every species of whale in the Arctic was targeted. 493 00:35:33,253 --> 00:35:36,643 One of the hardest hit was the Greenland right whale, 494 00:35:36,933 --> 00:35:40,130 so called Because it was the right whale to hunt. 495 00:35:40,733 --> 00:35:43,691 Big and slow moving, it was easy to catch. 496 00:35:44,613 --> 00:35:49,050 But the greatest advantage of all was that it floated when it was killed, 497 00:35:49,133 --> 00:35:51,931 making it simpler to haul Back to shore. 498 00:35:55,013 --> 00:36:00,041 Over the course of the sort of 200, 300 years that they were hunting the whales, 499 00:36:00,133 --> 00:36:03,091 about 1 20,000 were killed, 500 00:36:04,053 --> 00:36:06,521 to almost the point of extinction. 501 00:36:06,973 --> 00:36:09,328 It's Quite remarkable. I mean... 502 00:36:10,333 --> 00:36:13,803 But then, they were easy prey, in a way, weren't they? 503 00:36:14,333 --> 00:36:15,971 The right whale. 504 00:36:19,413 --> 00:36:23,292 NARRATOR: The right whale population never really recovered here. 505 00:36:23,373 --> 00:36:27,082 Today, there are almost none in the waters around Scabbard. 506 00:36:36,693 --> 00:36:41,244 As larger whales Became scarce, hunters turned to smaller species. 507 00:36:44,693 --> 00:36:48,163 One was the Beluga whale, which was hunted mercilessly. 508 00:36:50,013 --> 00:36:54,404 Some of its oil was so fine, it was used to lubricate watches. 509 00:36:57,053 --> 00:37:00,204 Having worked to conserve many species of whales, 510 00:37:00,293 --> 00:37:03,763 Philippe is keen to see how the Belugas are doing here. 511 00:37:07,053 --> 00:37:09,283 -There, that stark white colour... -Yeah. 512 00:37:09,373 --> 00:37:13,161 ...is so unique. There are no other whales that look like that. 513 00:37:13,253 --> 00:37:15,528 Look a bit like dolphins, actually. Less like a whale. 514 00:37:15,613 --> 00:37:18,923 They do have a little bit of a dolphin look, like a smile. 515 00:37:19,013 --> 00:37:21,686 But that melon is so distinctive on its head, you know, 516 00:37:21,773 --> 00:37:26,847 this big melon is just Very kind of the typical beluga shape. 517 00:37:27,493 --> 00:37:30,690 NARRATOR: These Belugas were filmed in captivity. 518 00:37:30,893 --> 00:37:34,772 Getting close to them in the wild will Be much more difficult. 519 00:37:35,253 --> 00:37:39,212 But I heard they're really Quite hard to actually see in the wild, 520 00:37:39,293 --> 00:37:41,124 -especially here in this region. -Yeah. 521 00:37:41,213 --> 00:37:42,566 They are supposed to be Quite shy, 522 00:37:42,653 --> 00:37:45,121 and that's why I wanted to see a little bit of footage ahead of time. 523 00:37:46,813 --> 00:37:49,088 NARRATOR: The team will try to find some Belugas 524 00:37:49,173 --> 00:37:53,530 to help assess the health of the population in this part of the Arctic. 525 00:37:53,613 --> 00:37:55,649 But the fjords are immense. 526 00:37:55,733 --> 00:37:59,692 So to cover more ground, Paul and Toni take a Boat each. 527 00:38:04,133 --> 00:38:06,442 It'll be a long, cold trip, man. 528 00:38:11,293 --> 00:38:16,083 NARRATOR: Philippe and Lucy stand By to go to whichever Boat finds any Belugas. 529 00:38:21,133 --> 00:38:24,523 They centre their search along the edge of the massive glaciers 530 00:38:24,613 --> 00:38:26,649 at the head of the fjord. 531 00:38:28,093 --> 00:38:33,213 As the glacier's coming down, it stirs up all this silt, till, 532 00:38:33,293 --> 00:38:36,922 and that helps to create a really nutrient-rich area. 533 00:38:37,253 --> 00:38:39,608 You have fresh water flowing in, so you can have lots of fish, 534 00:38:39,693 --> 00:38:41,365 lots of all sorts of stuff living in there. 535 00:38:41,453 --> 00:38:45,082 NARRATOR: These are ideal conditions for polar cod, 536 00:38:45,173 --> 00:38:47,209 fish the Belugas feed on. 537 00:38:47,973 --> 00:38:50,533 This is perfect for the belugas, for them to hunt. 538 00:38:50,613 --> 00:38:55,050 This is prime beluga Zone. 539 00:38:59,733 --> 00:39:03,851 Just going to keep looking this whole way along the glacier front. 540 00:39:06,733 --> 00:39:09,088 NARRATOR: Belugas are not easy to spot. 541 00:39:09,173 --> 00:39:12,051 Their white colour is excellent camouflage. 542 00:39:12,933 --> 00:39:16,448 I'm looking for things that look like either breaking waves or lumps of ice, 543 00:39:16,533 --> 00:39:17,966 which is a little bit confusing 544 00:39:18,053 --> 00:39:22,649 considering there are Quite a few lumps of ice knocking around these parts. 545 00:39:24,813 --> 00:39:28,123 I found a seal. I guess it doesn't count, though. 546 00:39:29,773 --> 00:39:34,324 NARRATOR: This is a Bearded seal, the largest species of Arctic seal. 547 00:39:35,533 --> 00:39:37,842 So they’ve got these red heads. 548 00:39:37,933 --> 00:39:40,891 And that's because when they’ve been rooting around on the bottom 549 00:39:40,973 --> 00:39:44,568 for their food, they rub it against all the iron ore that's up in the fjords. 550 00:39:44,653 --> 00:39:48,123 So these are the only ones of these bearded seals that have got red heads, 551 00:39:48,213 --> 00:39:50,932 just from rooting around on the bottom. 552 00:39:58,173 --> 00:40:00,243 NARRATOR: After several hours of searching, 553 00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:02,483 still no sign of Belugas. 554 00:40:03,853 --> 00:40:05,411 -That's frustrating. It's like... -I know. 555 00:40:05,493 --> 00:40:09,008 I mean, it's a massive area, there's no Question, but... 556 00:40:10,733 --> 00:40:13,566 They're here somewhere. Maybe we'll get... 557 00:40:14,213 --> 00:40:16,090 Just got to find them. 558 00:40:21,013 --> 00:40:23,732 NARRATOR: Finally, Toni has good news. 559 00:40:23,973 --> 00:40:26,692 So, we spotted the belugas. 560 00:40:26,813 --> 00:40:29,771 I literally just looked round and it looked like this block of ice 561 00:40:29,853 --> 00:40:31,889 was just coming up and going down again. 562 00:40:31,973 --> 00:40:35,124 And I can see a few of them. 563 00:40:38,573 --> 00:40:42,771 NARRATOR: The whales are moving quickly towards the expedition ship. 564 00:40:43,733 --> 00:40:46,452 It's the opportunity Philippe has Been waiting for, 565 00:40:46,533 --> 00:40:50,003 to assess the population of Belugas at close quarters. 566 00:40:53,413 --> 00:40:56,849 This is Very rare and, like, Very lucky. 567 00:41:04,453 --> 00:41:06,409 There's one over there. 568 00:41:07,293 --> 00:41:09,124 Oh, look, look, look! 569 00:41:20,853 --> 00:41:23,083 We are surrounded by belugas. 570 00:41:33,493 --> 00:41:35,211 NARRATOR: Philippe and Lucy estimate 571 00:41:35,293 --> 00:41:38,205 there are about 30 swimming around the Boat. 572 00:41:38,893 --> 00:41:42,203 Very shy. I can't believe we're getting this close. 573 00:41:42,693 --> 00:41:43,808 Wow. 574 00:41:44,893 --> 00:41:48,090 Look, they're literally just off the bow. 575 00:41:49,333 --> 00:41:53,326 NARRATOR: Belugas are adapted to life in these ice-covered seas. 576 00:41:55,533 --> 00:41:57,888 It's weird because there isn't a dorsal fin, 577 00:41:57,973 --> 00:42:01,522 which you'd expect to see on most cetaceans, or certainly dolphins. 578 00:42:01,613 --> 00:42:06,448 We think they’ve evolved to not have them for one of two reasons. 579 00:42:06,533 --> 00:42:09,127 When they're under the ice, it's much easier to swim along the ice 580 00:42:09,213 --> 00:42:11,329 without a dorsal fin sticking out. 581 00:42:11,413 --> 00:42:14,325 The other reason is that if they can reduce the surface area 582 00:42:14,413 --> 00:42:16,881 that's out in the water that's not insulated, 583 00:42:16,973 --> 00:42:19,612 so that they stay warmer without having a whole area 584 00:42:19,693 --> 00:42:22,924 where there's blood flowing through that can cool. 585 00:42:24,413 --> 00:42:27,166 NARRATOR: This pod of Belugas is all adults. 586 00:42:27,253 --> 00:42:31,644 They don't turn completely white until they're at least seven years old. 587 00:42:35,973 --> 00:42:39,409 Around 40% of their Body weight is Blubber, 588 00:42:39,493 --> 00:42:42,963 one of the reasons they were attractive to the whalers. 589 00:42:57,973 --> 00:42:59,452 I’ve never seen belugas in the wild before. 590 00:42:59,533 --> 00:43:01,012 -That was brilliant. -Beautiful, they were really... 591 00:43:01,093 --> 00:43:03,402 That was brilliant, so I say mission accomplished. 592 00:43:03,493 --> 00:43:05,563 The best thing was to see so many of them. 593 00:43:05,653 --> 00:43:07,769 -Yeah. -To see that they were so healthy. 594 00:43:07,853 --> 00:43:09,650 Dozens of them. Yeah. 595 00:43:14,293 --> 00:43:16,409 NARRATOR: While this pod might look healthy, 596 00:43:16,493 --> 00:43:19,291 the Beluga whale could face a new threat. 597 00:43:22,533 --> 00:43:26,412 A warming Arctic could speed up the retreat of the glaciers, 598 00:43:26,493 --> 00:43:28,802 damaging their feeding grounds. 599 00:43:31,813 --> 00:43:34,885 PHILIPPE: As soon as that glacier recedes far enough that it's on land, 600 00:43:34,973 --> 00:43:38,602 it's not going to be the kind of habitat the belugas need. 601 00:43:39,533 --> 00:43:41,728 NARRATOR: Increasingly, this is one of the most 602 00:43:41,813 --> 00:43:44,532 challenging places on Earth to survive. 603 00:43:49,573 --> 00:43:54,408 The Arctic Ocean is extremely cold, not very nutrient rich, 604 00:43:54,493 --> 00:43:57,690 and for four months of the year it's in darkness. 605 00:43:57,893 --> 00:44:01,568 So there's a limit to the marine life that can exist here. 606 00:44:03,573 --> 00:44:07,282 But are there corners of this ocean that can Beat the odds? 607 00:44:11,013 --> 00:44:15,404 Philippe wants to head south to the shallow waters of Isfjorden. 608 00:44:17,613 --> 00:44:22,323 Here, icy Arctic water mixes with water from the Gulf Stream, 609 00:44:22,413 --> 00:44:25,211 which Began life thousands of miles south 610 00:44:25,293 --> 00:44:27,648 in the tropical Gulf of Mexico. 611 00:44:30,173 --> 00:44:32,687 PHILIPPE: It's kind of a crossroads here. 612 00:44:32,773 --> 00:44:36,482 This is really the entrance, the beginning of the Arctic habitat, 613 00:44:36,573 --> 00:44:39,645 and I'm Very curious to see kind of what the whole thing looks like, 614 00:44:39,733 --> 00:44:42,122 the whole environment looks like. 615 00:44:51,053 --> 00:44:53,772 NARRATOR: At first, it's not promising. 616 00:44:55,173 --> 00:44:59,485 PHILIPPE: It's still pretty barren and white, almost like the surface. 617 00:44:59,893 --> 00:45:04,205 NARRATOR: But the empty seascape does show how this fjord was created. 618 00:45:06,013 --> 00:45:07,924 LUCY: You can see the scarring, 619 00:45:08,013 --> 00:45:11,403 where the glacier's sort of moved through the Valley. 620 00:45:11,733 --> 00:45:16,568 NARRATOR: Deep gouges on the ocean floor reveal how millions of tons of ice 621 00:45:16,653 --> 00:45:20,009 scraped across it, scoring the rock 622 00:45:20,333 --> 00:45:22,403 and shaping the fjord. 623 00:45:24,453 --> 00:45:27,684 Then the Bleak seascape is transformed. 624 00:45:28,533 --> 00:45:30,603 LUCY: Look at all this life. 625 00:45:30,693 --> 00:45:32,206 PHILIPPE: Yeah. 626 00:45:41,293 --> 00:45:44,126 PHILIPPE: You know, this conception that the Arctic 627 00:45:44,213 --> 00:45:48,001 is this empty, desolate place, 628 00:45:48,093 --> 00:45:51,085 totally blown away by what we're seeing here. 629 00:45:54,573 --> 00:45:58,043 There's an explosion of life. There's reds and greens. 630 00:45:58,413 --> 00:46:02,406 That's a soft coral, related to the kinds of corals that we’ve seen 631 00:46:02,493 --> 00:46:04,609 down in much warmer waters. 632 00:46:05,693 --> 00:46:08,571 But this is a soft coral, so it's purely a filter feeder, 633 00:46:08,653 --> 00:46:11,042 a bright, brilliant pinkish red colour. 634 00:46:11,133 --> 00:46:15,365 I did not expect to see a soft coral this Vibrant here in the Arctic. 635 00:46:17,973 --> 00:46:22,728 NARRATOR: Almost no warm water corals can survive through the winter darkness. 636 00:46:22,933 --> 00:46:27,324 They rely on algae that live By photosynthesis and need the sun. 637 00:46:28,213 --> 00:46:30,773 But these soft corals have no algae. 638 00:46:31,293 --> 00:46:34,365 They just need a steady supply of nutrients. 639 00:46:37,613 --> 00:46:40,605 PHILIPPE: It really is like a soup down here. 640 00:46:42,373 --> 00:46:45,251 This is basically the confluence of the North Atlantic Drift 641 00:46:45,333 --> 00:46:49,008 heading towards the Arctic waters and this is where the two meet, 642 00:46:49,093 --> 00:46:52,165 so that's why it's so incredibly nutrient-rich. 643 00:46:52,853 --> 00:46:55,765 It's a Very unique environment in many ways. 644 00:46:59,693 --> 00:47:02,890 NARRATOR: The current doesn't just support the coral. 645 00:47:02,973 --> 00:47:05,362 It also helps feed these anemones 646 00:47:05,453 --> 00:47:08,650 By Bringing prey within reach of their tentacles. 647 00:47:12,133 --> 00:47:13,964 There's even a kelp garden here, 648 00:47:14,053 --> 00:47:17,125 something usually associated with warmer water. 649 00:47:26,013 --> 00:47:28,004 PHILIPPE: If you look closely, I can't see one right now, 650 00:47:28,093 --> 00:47:31,165 but you'll also find Arctic kelp up here. 651 00:47:32,613 --> 00:47:35,923 It can photosynthesise, take energy from the sun 652 00:47:36,013 --> 00:47:38,004 for just one week a year. 653 00:47:40,293 --> 00:47:43,763 It stores up that energy, lasts it for 51 weeks a year. 654 00:47:44,173 --> 00:47:46,209 That's pretty incredible. 655 00:47:47,333 --> 00:47:49,722 NARRATOR: Other types of kelp have Begun to thrive here 656 00:47:49,813 --> 00:47:52,805 in the last few years as the ice has receded, 657 00:47:53,213 --> 00:47:56,285 allowing more sunlight to reach these shallows. 658 00:47:57,173 --> 00:48:01,769 It demonstrates how life adapts to inhabit the most unlikely places. 659 00:48:03,133 --> 00:48:05,852 It gives you another kind of dimension 660 00:48:05,933 --> 00:48:09,050 of just how rich the environment here, 661 00:48:09,133 --> 00:48:11,772 how much richer than even I thought it would have been. 662 00:48:11,853 --> 00:48:15,687 When I first came here, I had no idea how much life there is. 663 00:48:16,213 --> 00:48:18,408 And that just confirms it. I mean, that... 664 00:48:18,493 --> 00:48:20,484 That was really amazing. 665 00:48:23,693 --> 00:48:26,412 NARRATOR: The warm current flowing from the Gulf Stream 666 00:48:26,493 --> 00:48:31,203 also keeps much of the water around western Scabbard ice-free in summer. 667 00:48:36,573 --> 00:48:40,805 It's home to another Arctic species almost hunted to extinction. 668 00:48:45,933 --> 00:48:48,003 We're just going to look and see what we can see. 669 00:48:48,093 --> 00:48:49,321 Can you make any out? 670 00:48:49,413 --> 00:48:53,292 They're Quite a way off at the moment, but I can see movement. 671 00:48:53,413 --> 00:48:56,325 NARRATOR: They've spotted Atlantic walruses. 672 00:49:02,733 --> 00:49:05,167 They were killed for their fat and tusks 673 00:49:05,253 --> 00:49:08,086 until there were only about 1 00 left here. 674 00:49:08,373 --> 00:49:10,250 That was 60 years ago. 675 00:49:13,173 --> 00:49:17,007 The team wants to see how the walrus population is doing now. 676 00:49:21,413 --> 00:49:24,132 Walruses only live in the Arctic region, 677 00:49:24,213 --> 00:49:28,843 so for marine Biologist Toni, it's a rare opportunity to get close to them. 678 00:49:32,333 --> 00:49:35,052 I’ve just been watching them all tumbling in the water. 679 00:49:35,133 --> 00:49:37,966 Sometimes the play looks Quite frantic, 680 00:49:38,053 --> 00:49:41,443 as they are literally rolling and falling over each other. 681 00:49:41,533 --> 00:49:44,764 One of them lands on you, and that's it. Curtains. 682 00:49:49,613 --> 00:49:53,765 NARRATOR: They can weigh up to two tons, giving them immense power. 683 00:49:59,213 --> 00:50:03,172 Look how far they can push themselves out of the water, though. 684 00:50:06,013 --> 00:50:08,766 NARRATOR: Now that summer has cleared the ice here, 685 00:50:08,853 --> 00:50:11,162 the walruses have come to feed. 686 00:50:13,453 --> 00:50:15,762 They like to feed in about 50 metres of water, 687 00:50:15,853 --> 00:50:19,687 and they're gatherers, not hunters, and they're after these clams, 688 00:50:19,773 --> 00:50:21,809 which are about that big. 689 00:50:23,653 --> 00:50:26,213 NARRATOR: The feeding season in the Arctic is short, 690 00:50:26,293 --> 00:50:28,523 so walruses are Binge eaters. 691 00:50:29,173 --> 00:50:33,564 They can consume more than 50 kilograms of clams in just one day. 692 00:50:37,013 --> 00:50:40,483 Paul and Toni move onto the land to get a closer look. 693 00:50:42,413 --> 00:50:46,770 They want to observe the walruses and determine the size of the colony. 694 00:50:47,613 --> 00:50:49,410 PAUL: Getting close. 695 00:50:49,693 --> 00:50:53,652 NARRATOR: Walruses are suspicious By nature and easily alarmed, 696 00:50:53,733 --> 00:50:56,247 so Toni and Paul approach downwind 697 00:50:57,213 --> 00:51:00,091 and crouch to avoid looking like predators. 698 00:51:00,253 --> 00:51:02,721 PAUL: All right, there's one, look, on the rim. 699 00:51:02,813 --> 00:51:04,166 Oh, yeah, he's coming up. 700 00:51:04,253 --> 00:51:07,404 But he's not facing us, so let's keep going while he's busy. 701 00:51:07,493 --> 00:51:10,087 -Something smells good now. -They don't smell good. 702 00:51:10,173 --> 00:51:13,245 But this wind is perfect for us, though. 703 00:51:13,333 --> 00:51:14,652 I don't believe they can smell us, Toni. 704 00:51:14,733 --> 00:51:16,371 We should, uh... 705 00:51:22,613 --> 00:51:26,208 Their Latin name translates as ''tooth-walking seahorse'', 706 00:51:26,293 --> 00:51:28,682 which I just think is such a perfect literal translation. 707 00:51:28,773 --> 00:51:31,048 That is perfect. Look at them. 708 00:51:39,973 --> 00:51:43,932 NARRATOR: Judging By their large size, this colony is all male. 709 00:51:50,173 --> 00:51:53,290 TOONI: Look, the one that's just stuck his head up has got Very short tusks, 710 00:51:53,373 --> 00:51:55,364 -which means it's Quite young. -He's younger, yeah. 711 00:51:55,453 --> 00:51:57,648 The one towards the back, you can see, is much bigger. 712 00:51:57,733 --> 00:52:00,611 He's got much, much longer canines, 713 00:52:00,693 --> 00:52:03,412 which means that he's a much older male. 714 00:52:03,493 --> 00:52:07,771 PAUL: They grow to 40 years old, so he might be 30, 40 years old, that guy. 715 00:52:09,253 --> 00:52:13,132 That big male there, he's got lots of cuts all over his chest. 716 00:52:13,693 --> 00:52:18,050 Because they do use their tusks for fighting for establishing dominance. 717 00:52:22,093 --> 00:52:24,163 Let's do a count, roughly. 718 00:52:25,133 --> 00:52:27,647 NARRATOR: The size of the colony will give an insight 719 00:52:27,733 --> 00:52:30,122 into the recovery of the species. 720 00:52:30,373 --> 00:52:32,728 TOONI: Okay, I can see 721 00:52:32,813 --> 00:52:36,328 one, two, three, four... 722 00:52:36,613 --> 00:52:39,923 NARRATOR: They count 22 male walruses on the Beach. 723 00:52:40,333 --> 00:52:44,770 The rule of thumb is that about a quarter of the colony will Be on land. 724 00:52:45,453 --> 00:52:48,172 The rest will Be in the water, feeding. 725 00:52:49,693 --> 00:52:50,967 So this colony is 88. 726 00:52:51,053 --> 00:52:52,805 That's about right. 727 00:52:52,893 --> 00:52:55,282 They say between 1 0 and 1 00 in... 728 00:52:55,373 --> 00:52:56,522 Okay. 729 00:53:00,453 --> 00:53:03,763 NARRATOR: Sixty years ago, this colony would have represented 730 00:53:03,853 --> 00:53:07,209 almost the entire walrus population of Scabbard. 731 00:53:08,693 --> 00:53:12,481 They were made a protected species here in 1 952, 732 00:53:13,093 --> 00:53:15,687 and their numbers are slowly recovering. 733 00:53:15,773 --> 00:53:18,731 It's estimated there are now around 2,000. 734 00:53:20,733 --> 00:53:24,282 I love how they're, you know, on this great expanse of beach, 735 00:53:24,373 --> 00:53:27,092 they're all collected in one group, 736 00:53:27,173 --> 00:53:29,528 and they're just lying all over each other and... 737 00:53:29,613 --> 00:53:31,205 They're Very social, aren't they? 738 00:53:31,293 --> 00:53:34,012 -They're Very communal creatures. -Yeah. 739 00:53:35,653 --> 00:53:39,123 NARRATOR: As the Arctic transforms, the Atlantic walrus could, 740 00:53:39,213 --> 00:53:42,250 in the short term, Be a climate change winner. 741 00:53:44,933 --> 00:53:47,652 As their feeding grounds are usually near land, 742 00:53:47,733 --> 00:53:51,772 they're not dependent on ice floes to help them reach their food. 743 00:53:57,493 --> 00:54:00,849 And the retreating ice could expose more feeding grounds 744 00:54:00,933 --> 00:54:04,403 and stimulate the growth of clams, their staple diet. 745 00:54:07,333 --> 00:54:09,244 Which means that there's plenty of opportunity 746 00:54:09,333 --> 00:54:12,564 for their population to keep on and on increasing. 747 00:54:14,333 --> 00:54:15,766 NARRATOR: At least initially, 748 00:54:15,853 --> 00:54:20,563 global warming could improve the Atlantic walrus' ability to survive. 749 00:54:23,653 --> 00:54:25,132 It's a real interesting balance, 750 00:54:25,213 --> 00:54:28,330 because we talk a lot about the negativity of climate change, 751 00:54:28,413 --> 00:54:32,725 but it is always nice to have that little bit of a counterbalance 752 00:54:32,813 --> 00:54:35,327 to be able to say, ''You know what? 753 00:54:35,413 --> 00:54:39,201 ''There are some creatures that might benefit in some way 754 00:54:39,293 --> 00:54:41,807 ''with the changing Arctic climate.'' 755 00:54:43,373 --> 00:54:46,445 NARRATOR: The changes in the Arctic Ocean are complex, 756 00:54:46,533 --> 00:54:48,649 and not always predictable. 757 00:54:50,573 --> 00:54:53,929 But what we do know is that they will affect us all. 758 00:54:56,773 --> 00:55:00,209 A transformation in this remote, Bitter ocean 759 00:55:00,293 --> 00:55:04,491 will have a profound effect on life and climate around the globe. 760 00:55:10,493 --> 00:55:13,690 As the team has journeyed across the world's oceans, 761 00:55:13,773 --> 00:55:18,722 change has Been the dominant theme, often triggered By human activity. 762 00:55:22,853 --> 00:55:25,083 Habitats are Being destroyed. 763 00:55:26,453 --> 00:55:31,573 Something so perfectly adapted to one particular ecosystem, 764 00:55:31,653 --> 00:55:33,848 it's got nowhere else to go. 765 00:55:35,853 --> 00:55:38,572 NARRATOR: Species are Being threatened. 766 00:55:39,733 --> 00:55:42,964 We are totally decimating their numbers. 767 00:55:45,533 --> 00:55:49,367 NARRATOR: And the fragile Balance of life is Being disrupted. 768 00:55:49,493 --> 00:55:50,892 PHILIPPE: They'll eat their way down the food chain 769 00:55:50,973 --> 00:55:53,612 till there's nothing left down there. 770 00:55:56,413 --> 00:55:59,291 NARRATOR: But there are also signs of hope. 771 00:56:00,293 --> 00:56:03,763 Some species are managing to adapt and are thriving. 772 00:56:07,373 --> 00:56:11,764 And with human ingenuity, we are attempting to restore the Balance. 773 00:56:12,693 --> 00:56:14,411 TOONI: What we're looking at here is almost 774 00:56:14,493 --> 00:56:17,565 the Indian Ocean equivalent of a garden centre. 775 00:56:23,213 --> 00:56:27,047 NARRATOR: The oceans are one of our planet's greatest assets. 776 00:56:28,973 --> 00:56:31,646 And their future is in our hands.