Stay updated with breaking news from Rice Fields. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Here among the peaks of the high andes, great rivers of ice are born. this is the southern patagonian ice field. 220 miles long and an astounding 5,000 feet deep. patagonia's ice fields cover more than 6,500 square miles and are the third largest expanse of fresh water ice on the planet. temperatures can drop below minus 10 degrees fahrenheit.
But even here in patagonia's most extreme environment, there are hardy pioneers. this camp is the temporary home of an elite team of glaciologists. you need much more than a ph.d to work at place like this. [ speaking spanish ] >> very little is known about the impact of climate change on the ice field. chile is funding research to find out how much it's melting. expedition leader is never happier than when he is up here
The planet. it would be a disaster if we lost them. >> after a day of driving, they reach the end of the road. >> we got to caleta tortel, which is this beautiful village between the southern and northern patagonian ice fields. >> from here they board the scientists' boat, where they'll be traveling with some unusual cargo. >> so, they just arrived with these two essential provisions, which is port-a-loos or toilets. >> expedition leader camilo alvada is the final one aboard. it's a 13-hour sail to their next stop. a refuge at the foot of the glacier.
On certain glaciers because it just became too dangerous l for a while because the snow bridges on the glaciers - was too thin. this has increased the number of accidents with crevasses. i what basically happened is the jet stream, which is this meandering current of air, got stuck in one place. and so, all of this hot air from northern africa ended up piling up and that led to really, really high temperatures, which impacts everyone from sitting at home to, you know, snowpack on mountaintops. i mean, i'm not a climate expert, but obviously there is climate change in place and if it continues ...
Guiding certain trips - on certain glaciers because it just became too dangerous l for a while because the snow bridges on the glaciers - was too thin. this has increased the number of accidents with crevasses. i what basically happened is the jet stream, which is this meandering current of air, got stuck in one place. and so, all of this hot air from northern africa ended up piling up and that led to really, really high temperatures, which impacts everyone from sitting at home to, you know, snowpack on mountaintops. i mean, i'm not a climate expert, but obviously there is climate change in pl...