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Descent Into the Ice
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
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Tell students that a glacier is a large mass of ice, air, water,
and rock debris. Although glaciers are found on all continents
except Australia, they are mostly found at the Poles. Help
students locate Mount Blanc on a map and discuss the challenges
scientists must overcome to study glaciers.
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Divide the class into three teams. Assign each team one of the
three following topics to take notes while watching: kinds of
equipment scientists use to study the glacier at Mont Blanc,
techniques they use, and risks they face.
After Watching
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Have a class discussion about how scientists study the glacier
at Mont Blanc. Ask volunteers from each team to report on their
notes from the program. (Scientists use a combination of
cave-diving and coldwater-diving equipment to explore "water
wells." They use ice tools like crampons, ice axes, and ice
screws. To measure the movement of a glacier, one scientist uses
a bicycle wheel mounted on a cantilever. Risks include swimming
in near-freezing water, the possibility that part of the glacier
could collapse on top of them, and the possibility of a surge of
water drowning them.)
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Ask students how they would feel living in a village near Mont
Blanc. Why do people live in high-risk areas, such as near
volcanoes, on the beach, or in an area prone to earthquakes?
What steps could be taken in advance to limit the potential
losses of a catastrophic event?
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