Salz und Wasser

Summary

The documentary follows an international research team and the crew of the icebreaker Polarstern on an expedition to East Antarctica. Their mission is to study the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, whose potential shift due to global warming could bring warmer waters toward the Antarctic coast - a process that may accelerate the melting of the ice sheet and, over the long term, contribute to a sea-level rise of up to 52 meters. On board, scientists and crew members work around the clock under extreme conditions, collecting water and sediment samples and establishing a field camp on the Antarctic continent. The film shows how closely scientific research and the practical expertise of the ship's crew are intertwined – and how much dedication and personal commitment such an expedition demands. The journey was organized by the Alfred-Wegener-Institute and GEOMAR.