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National Geographic Polar Explorations

There's no need for jackets, dog sleds, and woolen socks in this adventure into the polar regions of our planet. (And yes, there will be penguins.)
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Overview

Travel to the polar regions on an exquisite visual journey guided by five Arctic and Antarctic experts who reveal the science, culture, and history of these majestic locations.

About

Michael E. Wysession

The more you know and understand the natural world, the greater will be your love and appreciation for it.

INSTITUTION

Washington University in St. Louis
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The World's Greatest Geological Wonders
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The Science of Energy: Resources and Power Explained
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National Geographic Polar Explorations
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Edward M. Murphy

My goal is to introduce you to the beauty and the wonder of the night sky, and to give you a basic knowledge needed to feel more comfortable navigating the sky.

INSTITUTION

University of Virginia
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Apollo 11: Lessons for All time
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National Geographic Polar Explorations
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Our Night Sky
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Sylvia A. Earle

As Explorer-in-Residence, I feel the joy of being able to go to both ends of the Earth aboard the National Geographic Explorer, the vessel that takes passengers, take scientists, takes me to places that have been off limits to people for most of our history.

INSTITUTION

National Geographic
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National Geographic Polar Explorations
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Ralph Lee Hopkins

As a photographer, I'm looking through a viewfinder, yes, but I'm more in the moment than I would be if I didn’t have my camera, and that’s the way I see the world.

INSTITUTION

National Geographic
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National Geographic Polar Explorations
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Fen Montaigne

We are moving into an era in which the melting of ice, on both land and at sea, will become one of the defining characteristics of a new geological age.

INSTITUTION

National Geographic
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National Geographic Polar Explorations
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National Geographic Polar Explorations

Trailer

Passion for the Poles

01: Passion for the Poles

What draws people to the poles again and again? What significance do these regions hold for the planet? Begin to answer these questions with Fen Montaigne, a journalist who has traveled extensively in the polar regions, as you delve into the awe-inspiring story of Ernest Shackleton's struggles in Antarctica, as well as Montaigne's own experiences....

32 min
Seasons at the Poles

02: Seasons at the Poles

In the latitudes where most of us live, it's easy to take the sun and its relationship with the Earth for granted. For us, the sun comes up and goes down reliably every day, yet the poles experience six months each of continuous night and constant day. What causes the seemingly strange behavior of the sun at the poles? What causes seasons? Find out in this lecture presented by astronomy professor ...

29 min
Connections between the Poles

03: Connections between the Poles

The North and South Poles share a history that is unique and unlike any other place on Earth. Join Professor Michael Wysession as he lays the groundwork for understanding the polar regions with a discussion of their geology-dominated by ice, ocean, climate, and even nearby outer space-as well as their similarities and differences....

33 min
The Saga of Arctic Exploration

04: The Saga of Arctic Exploration

Over the centuries, hundreds of people have perished trying to find their way through the Northwest Passage and to the North Pole, while hundreds more have spent months or years trapped on ships in Arctic sea ice. Discover how explorers such as Henry Hudson, Sir John Franklin, and Roald Amundsen opened up this polar region to the world....

31 min
The Icy Heart of Polar Seas

05: The Icy Heart of Polar Seas

Virtually every living thing in polar waters-from single-celled phytoplankton to whales-has evolved in a world dominated by sea ice. Study how Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems work, and consider what happens to a sea ice-dependent marine ecosystem when the sea ice begins to disappear....

28 min
Geology of the Arctic Circle

06: Geology of the Arctic Circle

Zoom in for a closer look at the unique geologic characteristics of the North Pole and surrounding Arctic Circle. First, take a brief geologic tour of the Arctic regions, then examine how the ocean, atmosphere, and surface geology all interact, and how this region has changed geologically over time....

32 min
Science and Spirits of the Arctic Sky

07: Science and Spirits of the Arctic Sky

Constellations were vital to the early Inuits' survival, as they used the daily, monthly, and annual motions of the stars for timekeeping, navigation, and tracking the seasons. Explore this tradition and how it differs from Western astronomy, then investigate what causes the breathtaking aurora borealis....

29 min
Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic

08: Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic

Although fewer than a half-million in number, Arctic dwellers are comprised of approximately 40 different ethnic groups. Learn how the Nenets of Russia, the Inuit of North America, and other communities survive, and how industrialization and other factors are altering traditional ways of life....

31 min
Greenland and Arctic Islands

09: Greenland and Arctic Islands

Delve into the past, present, and future of three of the most notable islands in the Arctic and sub-Arctic: Iceland, one of the world's most geologically active areas; Greenland, which dwarfs all other Arctic islands in size; and the Svalbard archipelago, home to The Global Seed Vault....

31 min
Terrestrial Mammals in the Changing Arctic

10: Terrestrial Mammals in the Changing Arctic

Now that Arctic sea ice is retreating, what will become of the polar bear? Will it survive and, if so, in what numbers? Learn how changes to the ecosystem are affecting the polar bears and the other remarkable animals that call the Arctic home, from the lemming to the Arctic fox....

31 min
Seabirds of the Arctic and Antarctic

11: Seabirds of the Arctic and Antarctic

Discover the astonishing array of avian life-primarily consisting of seabirds-that live in, breed in, and migrate to the planet's polar regions, including the albatross, the skua, the giant petrel, and the extraordinary Arctic tern, which carries out the longest annual migration of any living thing....

30 min
Marine Mammals, from Whales to Walruses

12: Marine Mammals, from Whales to Walruses

The waters of the Arctic and Antarctica teem with a remarkable number of marine mammals. Get an overview of the mammalian wildlife that inhabits or migrates to polar waters, including white beluga whales, leopard seals, crabeater seals, and walruses. Examine the sophisticated social structure of orcas, also known as killer whales, and why it makes them such effective predators....

29 min
The Race for the South Pole

13: The Race for the South Pole

Meet some of the towering figures of Antarctica's "heroic era," explorers and scientists in the early 20th century who vastly expanded our knowledge of the southernmost continent. Learn what drove these adventurers despite extreme hardship, and witness the treacherous race to the South Pole between Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Brit Robert Falcon Scott....

31 min
Geological Features of Antarctica

14: Geological Features of Antarctica

The ice in Antarctica may be more than a mile thick and millions of years old, but at times in its history the continent has been covered with jungles. Investigate the unusual geologic processes occurring in Antarctica and discover what features may be buried under all that ice....

28 min
Antarctica's Window on the Universe

15: Antarctica's Window on the Universe

Above Antarctica is a cap of stars and constellations hidden from view in the Northern Hemisphere and containing some of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Survey the region's astronomical highlights and learn why, at the South Pole itself, astronomers and other scientists enjoy research conditions unrivaled anywhere else on Earth....

31 min
Diving under Polar Ice

16: Diving under Polar Ice

How do humans get beneath the surface of Arctic ice or the Antarctic Ocean? Join marine conservationist Sylvia Earle, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, as she explains the technologies scientists use to dive safely beneath the sea ice in an effort to expand our knowledge of marine ecosystems at both poles. ...

26 min
Resource Development in Polar Seas

17: Resource Development in Polar Seas

Humans are extracting krill and other marine life at unprecedented levels. Burning fossil fuels is causing ocean acidification. What will happen if we change the temperature or chemistry of the ocean? Consider such questions in this lecture on the delicate ecosystems of Earth's oceans and the consequences of treating oceanic wildlife as commodities....

25 min
South Georgia and Macquarie

18: South Georgia and Macquarie

Among the least inhabited places on Earth, the sub-Antarctic islands feature a spectacular array of wildlife despite a history of wanton exploitation beginning in the 18th century. Learn how seal, whale, and penguin populations were devastated on and around two of the sub-Antarctic's most significant islands-South Georgia and Macquarie-and how each population has largely recovered....

29 min
Living among the Penguins

19: Living among the Penguins

Legendary Antarctic adventurer Apsley Cherry-Garrard said "all the world loves a penguin" and in this lecture, you'll understand why. Get acquainted with Adelie, emperor, and chinstrap penguins by exploring how each evolved into the fat, flightless swimmer it is today. Explore the history of their interaction with humans and their remarkable cycles of reproduction and survival....

29 min
Antarctica-A Continent for Science

20: Antarctica-A Continent for Science

Survey the discoveries made and hardships suffered during centuries of scientific exploration in Antarctica, including a research expedition that sought viable emperor penguin eggs in an attempt to unlock an evolutionary mystery. See how Antarctic research helped create the modern sciences of oceanography, climatology, and glaciology, and is still driving scientific progress....

34 min
Basics of Polar Photography

21: Basics of Polar Photography

Picture being in the Arctic when a polar bear approaches your ship. What kind of camera should you use to capture the moment? What settings should you choose? Here, National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins explains how to navigate the unique challenges of polar photography, from dealing with a "white world" to shooting atop a moving platform....

31 min
Photographing Polar Landscapes

22: Photographing Polar Landscapes

Photography is a blend of the creative and the technical and, in this lecture, you'll focus on the creative side of the equation. Learn how to use lighting, composition, and moment to your advantage in the Arctic and Antarctica through techniques such as changing perspective, incorporating people into your shots, and using negative space....

39 min

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