I was on this assignment and I had been knocking around glaciers in ice sheets
knocking around glaciers in ice sheets
knocking around glaciers in ice sheets for a long time and I knew that they
for a long time and I knew that they
for a long time and I knew that they were being affected by climate change
were being affected by climate change
were being affected by climate change but it wasn’t until this story that I
but it wasn’t until this story that I
but it wasn’t until this story that I really understood how much they were I
really understood how much they were I
really understood how much they were I was trained actually in the science of
was trained actually in the science of
was trained actually in the science of glacial geology and natural hazards way
glacial geology and natural hazards way
glacial geology and natural hazards way back in graduate school long time ago
back in graduate school long time ago
back in graduate school long time ago I’ve been climbing on mountains for 40
I’ve been climbing on mountains for 40
I’ve been climbing on mountains for 40 years and I’ve seen a lot of them in the
years and I’ve seen a lot of them in the
years and I’ve seen a lot of them in the course of different assignments but
course of different assignments but
course of different assignments but until I went on this trip I didn’t
until I went on this trip I didn’t
until I went on this trip I didn’t realize quite how rapidly things were
realize quite how rapidly things were
realize quite how rapidly things were changing this is up on the Greenland ice
changing this is up on the Greenland ice
changing this is up on the Greenland ice sheet this is from another story we did
sheet this is from another story we did
sheet this is from another story we did a few years ago huge meltwater rivers
a few years ago huge meltwater rivers
a few years ago huge meltwater rivers eroding through the Greenland ice sheet
eroding through the Greenland ice sheet
eroding through the Greenland ice sheet the ice of course breaks off out in the
the ice of course breaks off out in the
the ice of course breaks off out in the ocean and turns into icebergs floating
ocean and turns into icebergs floating
ocean and turns into icebergs floating out to sea and block-by-block
out to sea and block-by-block
out to sea and block-by-block molecule by molecule this becomes part
molecule by molecule this becomes part
molecule by molecule this becomes part of global sea level rise that you see
of global sea level rise that you see
of global sea level rise that you see here in Chesapeake Bay that you see on
here in Chesapeake Bay that you see on
here in Chesapeake Bay that you see on the coast of New Jersey whatever this
the coast of New Jersey whatever this
the coast of New Jersey whatever this this actually connects right to our
this actually connects right to our
this actually connects right to our lives here we call these ice diamonds
lives here we call these ice diamonds
lives here we call these ice diamonds these are the last surviving fragments
these are the last surviving fragments
these are the last surviving fragments of glaciers that are going away and
of glaciers that are going away and
of glaciers that are going away and going into the ocean as part of the sea
going into the ocean as part of the sea
going into the ocean as part of the sea level rise process so having seen all
level rise process so having seen all
level rise process so having seen all this and really got my head turned
this and really got my head turned
this and really got my head turned around by this assignment I started this
around by this assignment I started this
around by this assignment I started this extreme ice survey craziness and it
extreme ice survey craziness and it
extreme ice survey craziness and it occurred to me that just going out and
occurred to me that just going out and
occurred to me that just going out and photographing for a day an hour a week a
photographing for a day an hour a week a
photographing for a day an hour a week a month at a certain site wasn’t good
month at a certain site wasn’t good
month at a certain site wasn’t good enough that I needed to leave my eyes
enough that I needed to leave my eyes
enough that I needed to leave my eyes behind and that’s what these time-lapse
behind and that’s what these time-lapse
behind and that’s what these time-lapse cameras are and so in the spring of 2007
cameras are and so in the spring of 2007
cameras are and so in the spring of 2007 I built this whole network of cameras in
I built this whole network of cameras in
I built this whole network of cameras in my garage basically they’re mounted in
my garage basically they’re mounted in
my garage basically they’re mounted in these Pelican housings that we custom
these Pelican housings that we custom
these Pelican housings that we custom modify with glass on the front powered
modify with glass on the front powered
modify with glass on the front powered by solar panels there’s a custom
by solar panels there’s a custom
by solar panels there’s a custom computer inside that tells the camera
computer inside that tells the camera
computer inside that tells the camera when went to fire nikon cameras clicking
when went to fire nikon cameras clicking
when went to fire nikon cameras clicking away in the spring of seven we deployed
away in the spring of seven we deployed
away in the spring of seven we deployed 25 of these things and since then we’ve
25 of these things and since then we’ve
25 of these things and since then we’ve had double that amount out in the field
had double that amount out in the field
had double that amount out in the field we you know I’m here as the
we you know I’m here as the
we you know I’m here as the representative of a very very large team
representative of a very very large team
representative of a very very large team there’s about 15 of
there’s about 15 of
there’s about 15 of who work on this with a with a
who work on this with a with a
who work on this with a with a significant degree of regularity another
significant degree of regularity another
significant degree of regularity another 15 who have a lot of passion and
15 who have a lot of passion and
15 who have a lot of passion and involvement in this as well we have
involvement in this as well we have
involvement in this as well we have cameras in by Mount Everest in Greenland
cameras in by Mount Everest in Greenland
cameras in by Mount Everest in Greenland and Iceland in northern Canada Alaska
and Iceland in northern Canada Alaska
and Iceland in northern Canada Alaska Montana and Antarctica and we’re about
Montana and Antarctica and we’re about
Montana and Antarctica and we’re about to put 10 more cameras in Antarctica in
to put 10 more cameras in Antarctica in
to put 10 more cameras in Antarctica in about three months we’re hoping to get
about three months we’re hoping to get
about three months we’re hoping to get into Patagonia in about a year funding
into Patagonia in about a year funding
into Patagonia in about a year funding permitting so the cameras are out there
permitting so the cameras are out there
permitting so the cameras are out there our little robot eyes clicking the way
our little robot eyes clicking the way
our little robot eyes clicking the way watching the world while I’m in here
watching the world while I’m in here
watching the world while I’m in here talking to you and here’s an example of
talking to you and here’s an example of
talking to you and here’s an example of one of the things that the cameras see
one of the things that the cameras see
one of the things that the cameras see we’re up in Greenland’s now west central
we’re up in Greenland’s now west central
we’re up in Greenland’s now west central Greenland at a glacier called the
Greenland at a glacier called the
Greenland at a glacier called the elusive glacier and this thing is the
elusive glacier and this thing is the
elusive glacier and this thing is the primary conveyor belts pouring ice into
primary conveyor belts pouring ice into
primary conveyor belts pouring ice into the ocean from the interior of Greenland
the ocean from the interior of Greenland
the ocean from the interior of Greenland and making its contribution to global
and making its contribution to global
and making its contribution to global sea level rise global sea level by the
sea level rise global sea level by the
sea level rise global sea level by the way is going up up about an eighth of an
way is going up up about an eighth of an
way is going up up about an eighth of an inch per year right now at the current
inch per year right now at the current
inch per year right now at the current rate of ice loss and we had cameras
rate of ice loss and we had cameras
rate of ice loss and we had cameras turned on one night in May of 2008 and
turned on one night in May of 2008 and
turned on one night in May of 2008 and over the course of 75 minutes this is
over the course of 75 minutes this is
over the course of 75 minutes this is what the cameras saw there was this
what the cameras saw there was this
what the cameras saw there was this enormous what’s called a calving event
enormous what’s called a calving event
enormous what’s called a calving event it’s a break off event for this ice
it’s a break off event for this ice
it’s a break off event for this ice sheet these Berg’s that you’re seeing
sheet these Berg’s that you’re seeing
sheet these Berg’s that you’re seeing above the water level are 30 to 40
above the water level are 30 to 40
above the water level are 30 to 40 stories tall and they go ten times that
stories tall and they go ten times that
stories tall and they go ten times that height down inside the water and so this
height down inside the water and so this
height down inside the water and so this is you’re about to see the volume of ice
is you’re about to see the volume of ice
is you’re about to see the volume of ice that breaks off but this this is the
that breaks off but this this is the
that breaks off but this this is the source of the icebergs that apparently
source of the icebergs that apparently
source of the icebergs that apparently sank sank the Titanic by the odds of
sank sank the Titanic by the odds of
sank sank the Titanic by the odds of where the ice comes from in Greenland
where the ice comes from in Greenland
where the ice comes from in Greenland that’s a pretty good bet it’s a it was a
that’s a pretty good bet it’s a it was a
that’s a pretty good bet it’s a it was a vast event the largest calving event
vast event the largest calving event
vast event the largest calving event ever put on film and to give you a sense
ever put on film and to give you a sense
ever put on film and to give you a sense of scale because it’s very hard I’ll do
of scale because it’s very hard I’ll do
of scale because it’s very hard I’ll do something that no self-respecting
something that no self-respecting
something that no self-respecting photographer would ever do and put
photographer would ever do and put
photographer would ever do and put cheesy illustrations over his pictures
cheesy illustrations over his pictures
cheesy illustrations over his pictures but it’s a big chunk a mile by three
but it’s a big chunk a mile by three
but it’s a big chunk a mile by three miles by three-fifths of the mile deep
miles by three-fifths of the mile deep
miles by three-fifths of the mile deep and here if you put two Golden Gate
and here if you put two Golden Gate
and here if you put two Golden Gate bridges across it that would be the span
bridges across it that would be the span
bridges across it that would be the span of the block but even more pertinent to
of the block but even more pertinent to
of the block but even more pertinent to Washington the question of how many US
Washington the question of how many US
Washington the question of how many US Capitol buildings would it take to fill
Capitol buildings would it take to fill
Capitol buildings would it take to fill up that block of ice and dump it out to
up that block of ice and dump it out to
up that block of ice and dump it out to sea and the answer is it’s 3,000 US
sea and the answer is it’s 3,000 US
sea and the answer is it’s 3,000 US Capitol buildings large that’s a lot of
Capitol buildings large that’s a lot of
Capitol buildings large that’s a lot of ice big chunk of ice there’s so it’s
ice big chunk of ice there’s so it’s
ice big chunk of ice there’s so it’s it’s so hard to get your head around
it’s so hard to get your head around
it’s so hard to get your head around this even when you spend a lot of time
this even when you spend a lot of time
this even when you spend a lot of time out there but this is what we have to do
out there but this is what we have to do
out there but this is what we have to do to give it scale long story short we we
to give it scale long story short we we
to give it scale long story short we we wound up carrying on the extreme ice
wound up carrying on the extreme ice
wound up carrying on the extreme ice survey it started in o-5 it’s still
survey it started in o-5 it’s still
survey it started in o-5 it’s still going on right now seventh year and this
going on right now seventh year and this
going on right now seventh year and this story that’s in the current issue of the
story that’s in the current issue of the
story that’s in the current issue of the magazine is the third story for the
magazine is the third story for the
magazine is the third story for the magazine that’s come out of the project
magazine that’s come out of the project
magazine that’s come out of the project and you know it’s got these various
and you know it’s got these various
and you know it’s got these various facets to it there’s the question of
facets to it there’s the question of
facets to it there’s the question of time lapse and the repeat photography
time lapse and the repeat photography
time lapse and the repeat photography but there’s also the question of the
but there’s also the question of the
but there’s also the question of the aesthetics of this amazing protein
aesthetics of this amazing protein
aesthetics of this amazing protein substance called frozen water ice
substance called frozen water ice
substance called frozen water ice you know it’s wild stuff and it’s
you know it’s wild stuff and it’s
you know it’s wild stuff and it’s insanely ridiculously beautiful in
insanely ridiculously beautiful in
insanely ridiculously beautiful in captivating here’s what we call a repeat
captivating here’s what we call a repeat
captivating here’s what we call a repeat pair an aerial on the left side
pair an aerial on the left side
pair an aerial on the left side photographed of the Columbia glacier in
photographed of the Columbia glacier in
photographed of the Columbia glacier in Alaska in 2006 and on the right side
Alaska in 2006 and on the right side
Alaska in 2006 and on the right side what that glacier looked like just about
what that glacier looked like just about
what that glacier looked like just about a year ago at this time and now I’m
a year ago at this time and now I’m
a year ago at this time and now I’m going to show you a time-lapse camera
going to show you a time-lapse camera
going to show you a time-lapse camera installed up on what would be the left
installed up on what would be the left
installed up on what would be the left side of these frames shooting and
side of these frames shooting and
side of these frames shooting and looking at the Columbia as it recedes
you of course can’t see any of this with
you of course can’t see any of this with your eye human Ives can’t record change
your eye human Ives can’t record change
your eye human Ives can’t record change but cameras can that’s why we leave the
but cameras can that’s why we leave the
but cameras can that’s why we leave the cameras out there because you’re
cameras out there because you’re
cameras out there because you’re watching a historical process that you
watching a historical process that you
watching a historical process that you can’t otherwise comprehend all this
can’t otherwise comprehend all this
can’t otherwise comprehend all this stuff would be gone the memory would be
stuff would be gone the memory would be
stuff would be gone the memory would be completely lost without the camera there
completely lost without the camera there
completely lost without the camera there to record it
in this glacier is about to go back up
in this glacier is about to go back up into the picture another three to five
into the picture another three to five
into the picture another three to five miles and we haven’t been in there since
miles and we haven’t been in there since
miles and we haven’t been in there since May but there’s good reason to believe
May but there’s good reason to believe
May but there’s good reason to believe that it’s pulled back a good deal from
that it’s pulled back a good deal from
that it’s pulled back a good deal from where you see it already and if it has
where you see it already and if it has
where you see it already and if it has and it’s pulled off the land that’s on
and it’s pulled off the land that’s on
and it’s pulled off the land that’s on the right it will go into a very very
the right it will go into a very very
the right it will go into a very very fast retreat over these next few years
fast retreat over these next few years
fast retreat over these next few years so we put Humpty Dumpty back together
so we put Humpty Dumpty back together
so we put Humpty Dumpty back together again that’s where it started
and we go forward and that’s where it
and we go forward and that’s where it was in May
okay last visual chasing ice I didn’t
okay last visual chasing ice I didn’t make the film I’m the the trained monkey
make the film I’m the the trained monkey
make the film I’m the the trained monkey that’s in the film it was made by a
that’s in the film it was made by a
that’s in the film it was made by a filmmaking team led by a young director
filmmaking team led by a young director
filmmaking team led by a young director named Jeff Orlowski and it documented
named Jeff Orlowski and it documented
named Jeff Orlowski and it documented the project I of course was responsible
the project I of course was responsible
the project I of course was responsible for for getting the team out in the
for for getting the team out in the
for for getting the team out in the field
field
field developing the time-lapse and we’re
developing the time-lapse and we’re
developing the time-lapse and we’re happy to say it’s been widely widely
happy to say it’s been widely widely
happy to say it’s been widely widely received and it’s really helped to shift
received and it’s really helped to shift
received and it’s really helped to shift the debate on climate change it’s been
the debate on climate change it’s been
the debate on climate change it’s been shown in the British House of Commons
shown in the British House of Commons
shown in the British House of Commons the UN the White House many policy areas
the UN the White House many policy areas
the UN the White House many policy areas lots of corporations and the film just
lots of corporations and the film just
lots of corporations and the film just in case you’re interested has is
in case you’re interested has is
in case you’re interested has is finished more or less with its
finished more or less with its
finished more or less with its international theatrical run but it’s
international theatrical run but it’s
international theatrical run but it’s available on Netflix on iTunes and and
available on Netflix on iTunes and and
available on Netflix on iTunes and and it’s been it’s on the National
it’s been it’s on the National
it’s been it’s on the National Geographic Channel in heavy rotation
Geographic Channel in heavy rotation
Geographic Channel in heavy rotation started in April but it’s it’s going
started in April but it’s it’s going
started in April but it’s it’s going around the world quite a bit hundred and
around the world quite a bit hundred and
around the world quite a bit hundred and 71 countries so here’s a trailer that
71 countries so here’s a trailer that
71 countries so here’s a trailer that shows you the film and gives you a taste
shows you the film and gives you a taste
shows you the film and gives you a taste of what it’s all about here we go
of what it’s all about here we go
of what it’s all about here we go I’m on the phone with Jim on one of our
I’m on the phone with Jim on one of our
I’m on the phone with Jim on one of our regular check-ins Jim nothing’s
regular check-ins Jim nothing’s
regular check-ins Jim nothing’s happening it’s starting at him I think
happening it’s starting at him I think
happening it’s starting at him I think part of it started
it all started in Iceland think I’m so
it all started in Iceland think I’m so certain to get what I’ll take my boots
certain to get what I’ll take my boots
certain to get what I’ll take my boots off I never imagined that you could see
off I never imagined that you could see
off I never imagined that you could see glaciers this big disappearing in such a
glaciers this big disappearing in such a
glaciers this big disappearing in such a short time there’s a powerful piece of
short time there’s a powerful piece of
short time there’s a powerful piece of history that’s unfolding in these
history that’s unfolding in these
history that’s unfolding in these pictures and I have to go back the
pictures and I have to go back the
pictures and I have to go back the initial goal was to put out 25 cameras
initial goal was to put out 25 cameras
initial goal was to put out 25 cameras for three years shoot every hour as long
for three years shoot every hour as long
for three years shoot every hour as long as it was daylight that would show you
as it was daylight that would show you
as it was daylight that would show you how the landscape was changing this is
how the landscape was changing this is
how the landscape was changing this is the way to travel my friend putting
the way to travel my friend putting
the way to travel my friend putting really delicate electronics in the
really delicate electronics in the
really delicate electronics in the harshest conditions on the planet it’s
harshest conditions on the planet it’s
harshest conditions on the planet it’s not the nicest environment for
not the nicest environment for
not the nicest environment for technology I do not want to go any lower
technology I do not want to go any lower
technology I do not want to go any lower than this
than this
than this it’s just bottomless I’m going out here
it’s just bottomless I’m going out here
it’s just bottomless I’m going out here on this broken fin and I assume it won’t
on this broken fin and I assume it won’t
on this broken fin and I assume it won’t collapse
every once in a while you get saying oh
every once in a while you get saying oh thank you
thank you
thank you maybe that office job wasn’t so bad this
maybe that office job wasn’t so bad this
maybe that office job wasn’t so bad this thing is rock it’s not working
thing is rock it’s not working
thing is rock it’s not working all of that obsession means nothing if
all of that obsession means nothing if
all of that obsession means nothing if it doesn’t work it’s be careful don’t
it doesn’t work it’s be careful don’t
it doesn’t work it’s be careful don’t get too close to the edge all right
get too close to the edge all right
get too close to the edge all right it’s terrifying
miss Tia said two surgeries it really
miss Tia said two surgeries it really could use a surge you goes to that point
could use a surge you goes to that point
could use a surge you goes to that point where he can’t anymore and sometimes
where he can’t anymore and sometimes
where he can’t anymore and sometimes he’s going further we have no one reason
he’s going further we have no one reason
he’s going further we have no one reason engine number two this is a big stuff
engine number two this is a big stuff
engine number two this is a big stuff happening right now okay
happening right now okay
happening right now okay [Music]
this is the memory of the landscape that
this is the memory of the landscape that landscape is gone and may never be seen
landscape is gone and may never be seen
landscape is gone and may never be seen again in the history of civilization and
again in the history of civilization and
again in the history of civilization and it’s stored right here
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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