NOVA Season 31 Episode 12 Descent Into the Ice

NOVA is a long-running documentary television series that seeks to explain complex scientific concepts and examine the latest discoveries in science.

In season 31, episode 12, entitled "Descent Into the Ice," the NOVA team takes us on a journey to the world's largest canyon, the Greenland Grand Canyon, which has never been explored by humans before.

The goal of the mission is to study the canyon's depth, ice thickness, and physical characteristics to see how it has changed over time. Discovered by satellite imagery in recent years, the canyon is thought to be more than 460 miles long and over half a mile deep.

The documentary follows a team of expert researchers as they embark on a treacherous journey into the depths of the Greenland ice sheet on snowmobiles. The team must navigate extremely hazardous conditions, including shifting glaciers, bottomless crevasses, and unexpected storms, as they make their way to the canyon's edge.

Once at the canyon, the team deploys sophisticated equipment to take measurements of the ice. They drill several kilometers into the ice sheet to collect ice cores that contain valuable data about the planet's climate history.

The episode also explores the impact that rising global temperatures are having on the Greenland ice sheet, which is currently losing ice at an unprecedented rate. By studying the Greenland Grand Canyon, researchers hope to gain insight into how the ice sheet may be affected by future warming trends, and how this could impact sea levels around the world.

Throughout the episode, viewers will learn about the groundbreaking research that is being conducted on the Greenland ice sheet, and the challenges that scientific teams face when working in such hazardous and extreme environments. The show also highlights the importance of protecting these remote and fragile locations in the face of climate change, and the role that scientific research plays in understanding the complex systems that govern our planet.

Overall, "Descent Into the Ice" is a gripping and informative episode of NOVA that will fascinate anyone with an interest in climate change, polar exploration, or cutting-edge scientific research. With stunning visuals and expert interviews, it offers a unique glimpse into one of the most remote and mysterious places on Earth.