All “Expeditions” Posts
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EarthEcho Updates, Expeditions, Marine Life
The Power of Alaska
PHOTOS BY KEITH ELLENBOGEN
Rarely is the raw power of nature so evident as when one stands staring up at a 300 foot towering mountain of ice. All around us the mountains have been worn smooth by frozen water over millennia with the only jagged peaks being those that were high enough to escape the relentless onslaught of the glaciers. Mother harbor seals concerned for their newborn pups watched us with wary eyes from their frozen perches atop icebergs as we slowly cruised past, careful to keep our distance so as not to disturb them.
This was Dawes Glacier, a tide water glacier, in other words a rare type of glacier that originates in the mountains and makes it all the way down to the ocean, which was recorded by John Muir in 1879. The weather was holding for the time being, and though rain seemed imminent, who could …
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle, Media, CNN
July 16 - Watch Extreme Science with Philippe Cousteau on CNN International
In the one-hour documentary program Extreme Science, Philippe Cousteau will take viewers to one of the coldest places on earth, the Arctic, to explore the significance of the science studied in extreme conditions. To study the effects of global warming at the Catlin Ice Base, scientists test the salinity levels of the water and its acidification. They also have to maintain a plane runway, prepare for the event of a polar bear attack, and generally operate in freezing temperatures that regularly dip down to -40 degrees. Philippe blogged about his Arctic adventures while shooting this documentary. Get a sneak peak by reading those entries here.
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Catlin Ice Base: Mission Critical
I woke up this morning to snow falling on my head caused by the accumulation of my breath freezing on the inside of the tent all night long. Wiping sleep from my eyes, I wrestled with my gear as I slipped out of my sleeping bag into the -35 degree centigrade air. To read the rest of Philippe’s blog on CNN International, visit Follow Philippe (@PCousteau) on Twitter
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Walking on the Ocean
Since arriving at Catlin Ice Base, we’ve been walking on the ocean — the only thing separating us from the roughly 1,000 feet of freezing Arctic Ocean below is five feet of ice. At these temperatures, a human being would survive about 5 minutes in the water; so it seemed rather counterintuitive that we spent the better part of 8 hours today drilling and chipping through the ice to reach the frigid water below. To read more, visit Philippe’s blog on CNN International http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/22/arctic.expedition/index.html Follow Philippe on Twitter! @PCousteau
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Arctic Day 7: Warm smiles at the Ice Base
It’s not your typical day at the office. Flying 300 miles north of the second most northern outpost in the Canadian Arctic is not something that happens every day. But finally, it happened to us. After a week of waiting, the weather cleared long enough for us to get out of Resolute Bay. To read the rest of Philippe’s blog, please visit http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/22/arctic.expedition/index.html EarthEcho CEO Philippe Cousteau has arrived at the Catlin Arctic Ice Base. During his expedition, he will work with scientists from the Catlin Arctic Survey to determine the global effects of the melting ice in the Arctic. To learn more about The Catlin Arctic Survey, please visit http://www.catlinarcticsurvey.com/
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Arctic Day 4: Staying grounded as frustration mounts
Disappointment turned to frustration as soon as we got the news that we would be delayed another day. The weather continues to hammer the northern Canadian Arctic with a low pressure system hundreds of miles wide that is causing zero visibility conditions at Ice Base. Click here to read the rest of my blog on CNN International
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Arctic Day 3: Disappointment
The alarm rang as the early morning sun was trickling through the blinds on my window. As the fog of sleep quickly evaporated, I realized that today was the day we head to Ice Base. Finally, after weeks of preparation it was time to head north. Or so I thought. To read the rest of my blog, go to: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/22/arctic.expedition/index.html
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Rules of the Ice Base
Today was our last full day at Resolute Bay before heading to Ice Base (weather permitting) and we spent it getting the gear ready, trying it on, and venturing outside for an extended hike outside of town. Everything went smoothly but we were all a little shocked by the cold at first and grateful for the training that we had received, which can be summed in the 8 rules of Ice Base: To read the 8 rules of Ice Base and see pictures of Philippe in Arctic gear visit his blog on CNN International http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/22/arctic.expedition/index.html
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Expeditions, CNNi, Arctic Circle
Arctic Day 1: Resolute Bay
There is always a sense of anxious anticipation in the weeks leading up to an expedition; a combination of nervous energy and excitement, but as the lights of Resolute Bay began to peer through the dusk there was a sense of relief. We had finally made it after days of travel to this remote outpost in the northern Canadian Arctic. This was not the final destination of our journey but would serve as a way station for a day’s worth of training before continuing on to Ice Base another 400 miles to the northwest. Finally, the expedition had begun. To read more, please visit http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/03/22/arctic.expedition/index.html EarthEcho CEO Philippe Cousteau was recently announced as the host and special correspondent for CNN International’s Going Green Specials. In …
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Everything You Do Makes a Difference, Expeditions, Gulf Oil Spill, Media, TreeHugger
Dispatch From the Gulf Oil Spill: Breaking the Law to Save the Gulf
In the past week I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie Hinton, Chief of the Magnolia Springs Fire Department. Jamie is one of the many examples of people who translate their awareness into action. Awareness is only the first step in committing to making changes that will help protect our planet. Click here to read the my blog about Jamie and the Gulf Oil Spill on TreeHugger
