Critique de School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-As much true adventure as science, this NOVA program (with the usual sponsor messages at the beginning of the original television broadcast) offers an exciting tour on and into the glaciers of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's highest peak. Male French glaciologists and German ice cave explorers and mountain climbers are seen onscreen, speaking either easily understood but accented English or their native language with time delayed translation into English. The only woman shown is a spouse and skilled gourmet cook to the crew. A competent male narrator provides well-paced but sometimes overly dramatic commentary and information about this constantly changing geologic feature. Glacier composition is explained with clear animated diagrams. Time-lapse photography shows glacial growth and recession over the years as seen from the surface as well as glacial movement from below. Glaciologist Luc Moreau monitors data at these research stations underground and conducts surface studies of the 1000 foot thick ice. His search for dangerous interior glacier lakes is the focus of this program. Ice cave explorations and tunnel navigation, where an inflatable raft and two scientists travel into the glacier, provide drama and excitement. Special underwater cameras track the scientists' mission to search for cracks and tunnels. This suspenseful search for clues to the source of water flow to a hidden interior lake is important to the safety of the surrounding region. Photographs, drawings, records, and simulations help recreate an 1892 glacial rupture that flooded the town. Some illustrations and visualizations include nudity. A warning about material not appropriate for younger viewers is included at the end of the case notes. Portions of this program could be useful for geology units on glaciers, while the adventure of a dangerous research mission will appeal to general audiences.-Joan Karasick, Greenwich High School, Greenwich, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.