NOVA Season 50 Episode 16 Arctic Drift
- October 13, 2021
In the 50th season of the popular science-based show NOVA, Episode 16 titled "Arctic Drift" takes the audience on a journey through the Arctic to understand the changing landscape and its impact on the planet.
The hour-long episode begins with a bird's eye view of the Arctic through satellite imagery and explains how the region has been witnessing unprecedented changes due to global warming. The melting of ice caps, rising sea levels, and the impact on polar wildlife are some of the consequences of rising temperatures that are discussed.
The episode showcases how a team of researchers brave the freezing temperatures and embark on an Arctic expedition to collect data and understand the changes happening in the region. The journey takes the team through icebergs and extreme weather conditions, highlighting the challenges and risks involved in studying this aspect of the planet.
NOVA's Arctic Drift emphasizes that understanding the complex relationships between the Arctic, the ocean, and the atmosphere and how climate change impacts them is vital for predicting the future of the planet. The team's work includes taking measurements of the ocean's salinity, temperatures, and currents to better understand the torrid underwater currents that have a significant impact on the Arctic and ultimately the planet.
Furthermore, the researchers investigate how the Arctic's melting ice may affect sea levels worldwide, and, in turn, the global climate. The team explains the impact of the melting ice caps on the oceans' circulation and how this could trigger mass migrations, changes in fish populations, and changes in regional climates.
The episode also explores the technological advancements that allow us to study the Arctic and assess the damage caused by climate change. The researchers use state-of-the-art sensors, cameras, and laptops to capture the ocean's data, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are used to measure the melting ice's thickness and density.
Throughout the episode, the team stresses that the window to act on climate change is rapidly closing, and the consequences of inaction could be devastating. Future episodes of NOVA will focus on solutions that could tackle climate change, but at present, the team's work provides valuable data and insights into how the Arctic could change in the coming decades.
Finally, the episode concludes with an awe-inspiring display of the sublime beauty of the Arctic's glaciers and wildlife. Narrated by actor Sterling K. Brown, NOVA's Arctic Drift is not only a gripping and informative guide to our planet's changing climate but also a call to action.
