The Fascination of Water

Water is the substance that has fascinated Uli Kunz all his life. The Terra X presenter is a marine biologist and research diver. He takes the viewer on a journey to the water worlds of the earth. He takes the audience on a journey to the hot springs, dams and waterfalls of Iceland. We explore the cave world of Switzerland and meet humpback whales in the South Pacific. Every year between July and September is whale season in the South Pacific. Humpback whales spend several months in the warm waters to mate and raise their young. The males in particular sometimes sing for hours. Whale researchers record the sounds and try to decode the language of the whales. All over the world, scientists are trying to decipher the secrets of the water: How much water is actually on Earth? How do trees transport the water to the very top of the crown? What role do clouds play in the eternal water cycle? And what do the songs of the whales mean?

More than 70 percent of the earth is covered by water. But how did the water get to earth in the first place? NASA researchers are investigating whether meteorites once brought water to Earth. H2O makes our planet unique – and is the basis of all life. Even in a gold mine in South Africa, four kilometres deep in the earth’s rock, there is life and therefore traces of water. In the second episode of “The Fascination of Water”, marine biologist and research diver Uli Kunz travels to the Blue Holes of the Bahamas and explores the magical border between fresh and salt water. On Spitsbergen he accompanies glaciologists on a unique and dangerous expedition. They want to go 200 metres deep into the interior of a glacier and find out why the white giants are moving faster and faster towards the sea.