Man of the Glaciers

How did Claude Lorius study the "memories of the ice"?

The effects of climate change will have a profound impact on the life of our planet and constitutes in the long run a threat to the survival of the human race. The name of one man in particular is linked to this discovery, that of Claude Lorius. With his partners, he led extensive expeditions to the glaciers of Antarctica where he collected core samples from the ice that had been formed over tens of thousands of years. This treasure trove enabled scientists to date and interpret the ice sheet. Lorius and his team were among the first to realize that the bubbles of air often trapped inside the ice would be reliable and unique indicators of the climate of times past – a discovery that encouraged them to drill ever deeper into the ice, to a depth of 4000m.

During the 2004 expedition, Claude Lorius was struck by partial amnesia. In an attempt to gradually “recover his senses” through the contact with the polar ice, he has returned to Antarctica accompanied by the film’s director, Katarzyna Chambenoit.

Pariscience 2008
: Friday 10th October 2008 from 18h00 to 20h00