- Title: Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2004 From Antarctica
- Date: 29th December 2004
- Summary: Thousands and thousands of miles of brilliant white. Millions and millions of tons of ice. But why is Antarctica a frozen continent? Why is this mass of ice so important to each and every one of us? And why is it so vital that scientists try and understand this remarkable kingdom? In Ice World Lloyd Peck casts light on these mysteries by leaping down crevasses, grappling with supercomputers and hunting mighty icebergs. He uncovers the past, present and future of Antarctica, and discovers that it hasn't always been the cold, desolate desert it is today. He finds a continent that is constantly changing, where billions and billions of tons of ice are always on the move. A continent criss-crossed by rafts of ice so large they can be seen from space, sweeping relentlessly from the centre of the continent to the surrounding oceans. And it is this ice that holds the key to some of the biggest mysteries on the planet. The past million years are frozen in time, deep inside this mass of ice. It provides an unrivalled snapshot of the turbulent history of the planet, telling how the earth has adapted to change. But it doesn't just record the past, it could shape the future, dictate the weather and decide which countries will be wiped from the map. So what is really going to happen to the world? Are we staring down the barrel of an ice age? Is there anything we can do about it? Can we be certain of the day after tomorrow?
- Description:The 2004 R.I. Christmas Lectures. This year's subject is Antarctica. Some parts of these programmes will be filmed in Antarctica. 3x60' programmes
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:WINDFALL FILMS LTD
- Programme Episode:Episode 3
- Transmission Date:29/12/2004
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 2000s