Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

Arctic Ocean

Episode 8 of 8

Documentary. The team dives into one of the world's most hostile environments, beneath the polar ice cap, to explore how the ice is shrinking and how this may affect the climate.

The team ventures into one of the world's most hostile environments, the Arctic Ocean, which plays a crucial role in controlling our climate.

Expedition leader Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and oceanographer Tooni Mahto head to this hostile and remote ocean, where they plan to dive beneath the polar ice cap to explore how the ice, the dominant feature of this ocean, is shrinking and how this could affect the rest of the world.

The polar bear is threatened by the retreating ice - but it is not alone. The team risks diving in sub-zero temperatures to collect samples of some of the tiny creatures that form the basis of the Arctic's complex food chain.

As the seas warm, the Atlantic walrus could be a global warming winner, in the short-term, and the team attempts to find out why. And they search for a glimpse of the world's only white whale, the beluga.

57 minutes

On TV

Next Wednesday16:15

More episodes

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from Oceans

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterPaul Rose
PresenterLucy Blue
PresenterTooni Mahto
PresenterPhillipe Cousteau
DirectorPenny Allen
DirectorDaniel Barry
Executive ProducerAnne Laking
Series ProducerHelen Thomas

Broadcasts

  • Fri 19 Dec 200821:00
  • Fri 19 Dec 200821:30
  • Sat 20 Dec 200817:40
  • Mon 22 Dec 200821:00
  • Tue 30 Dec 200800:25
  • Sat 3 Jan 200902:10
  • Thu 12 Feb 200917:00
  • Fri 7 Aug 200919:00
  • Sun 2 Sep 201217:15
  • Sat 3 Aug 201320:00
  • Sun 4 Aug 201302:05
  • Wed 7 Aug 201300:00
  • Thu 3 Oct 201314:45
  • Mon 10 Apr 201723:00
  • Wed 22 Aug 201816:15
  • Wed 23 Sep 202016:15
  • Wed 22 Nov 202315:15
  • Next Wednesday16:15

Visit BBC Earth

Visit BBC Earth

The home of wildlife on the BBC

The Blue Planet

The Blue Planet

David Attenborough narrates a natural history of the oceans