Ep 8. Chasing Ice

In the eighth episode of the 2013 season of National Geographic Documentaries, viewers are taken on an incredible journey through one of the world's most endangered environments: the Arctic. In "Chasing Ice," filmmakers track the work of acclaimed nature photographer James Balog, who has spent years documenting the devastating effects of global climate change on glaciers around the world.

Through stunning time-lapse photography, viewers are able to see the incredible scale of this problem as Balog and his team venture into the Arctic wilderness to place time-lapse cameras at strategic points around the region's melting glaciers. The resulting images show glaciers retreating at an alarming rate, and offer evidence that many of these ancient frozen formations are likely to disappear entirely in just a few short years.

As the team continues their work, they face a range of incredible challenges, from battling minus 40-degree temperatures to surviving avalanches and all-consuming ice storms. At the same time, Balog and his team are also racing against the clock to capture these images before it's too late, facing the possibility that some of the rapidly melting formations they're documenting may be gone forever before they even have a chance to document them.

Beyond the breathtaking visuals and the startling evidence of climate change that the film offers, "Chasing Ice" also provides viewers with a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on the future of our planet. Through interviews with leading scientists, conservationists, and environmental activists, viewers are given a stark reminder of the challenges we face as a species in the years to come, and the ways in which our planet is likely to change in the face of rising global temperatures and melting ice caps.

Despite the sobering reality that "Chasing Ice" presents, the film is also a testament to the human spirit and the power of individual action to make a difference. As Balog and his team work tirelessly to document the changes in the Arctic landscape, they offer a hopeful reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, there is still hope for a brighter future - if we are willing to take action and do our part to protect our planet.