Frozen Planet II (BBC Earth)

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I went to Antarctica to direct the killer whale shoot. We'd been on location only 15 days when one of the crew developed an infection. We steamed to a base several days away to get her urgent medical attention, then headed even further north to drop her off on a cruise ship. Rapid ice loss is also happening across the high mountains of the planet’s continents. Glaciologist Hamish Pritchard uses a sophisticated helicopter-strung radar system to try to quantify how much ice is left in the previously uncharted glaciers of the Himalayas. It’s important as, downstream, some 1.2 billion people rely on glacial meltwater as their primary source of fresh water.

I was a huge fan of the original series, but a decade has passed since it aired and we now have a far greater understanding of our frozen habitats. Ten years ago we were still debating whether climate change was man-made or not! This series tells the bigger story of all of our frozen worlds - which, incredibly, cover one fifth of our planet – at a time when they're changing faster than ever before. Frozen Planet (2011) looked at the passing of the seasons at the poles. How does Frozen Planet II move on from that? Wrap up warm, and discover spine-tingling true stories from our incredible planet, in this ground-breaking new BBC Earth series narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Read more DetailsLeaving Antarctica and travelling north, we discover frozen habitats that are created by altitude. The greatest of these is the Himalayas, the tallest mountain range on earth, which contains so much ice and snow it is known as the third pole. In the shadow of the Himalaya lies a vast frozen grassy plain that is home to the fluffiest cat in the world, Pallas’s cat. It may have extremely dense fur, but if it’s to survive the Mongolian winter, it needs to catch lots of gerbils and voles. Easier said than done when you only have short legs and paws that are sensitive to the cold.

The first instalment works its way up from Antarctica to the Arctic via the Great Steppe, north of the Himalayas, the boreal forests (where the Siberian tiger roams a 700-square-mile territory looking for the 10kg of slower animal it needs a day) and Greenland. To avert the risk of falling victim to Stendhal syndrome, numbed by the relentless beauty of it all, the sweeping majesty is carefully punctuated with lighter moments. The seven-part series focuses on life and the environment in both the Arctic and Antarctic. The production team were keen to film a comprehensive record of the natural history of the polar regions because climate change is affecting landforms such as glaciers, ice shelves, and the extent of sea ice. The series was met with critical acclaim and holds a Metacritic score of 91/100. [5] a b "Discovery Channel Announces March 18 Premiere Date for Frozen Planet: Discovery Channel". Dsc.discovery.com. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012 . Retrieved 13 December 2011. Discovery.com/tv/frozen-planet/episode-guide". Archived from the original on 23 November 2012 . Retrieved 14 April 2012.a b "Delve deeper into the Frozen Planet with The Open University". Press Release. The Open University. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018 . Retrieved 20 October 2011. BBC's Dynasties II, Frozen Planet II and Planet Earth III are heading to South Korea". SEENIT. 8 June 2022 . Retrieved 24 August 2022. On Sunday 18 September 2022 the series saw its network debut on BBC Earth Asia covering the nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. [10] [11] Episodes [ edit ] Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and with the latest scientific discoveries and breathtaking filming, we will show you the secrets of our frozen planet, as you've never seen it before. Welcome to Frozen Planet II. Four years in the making and filmed in ultra-high definition, this spectacular series tells the stories of our frozen realms at a time when they are on the brink of major change, and the incredible creatures that call them home.