1 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:10,720 From space... 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:15,800 ..is breathtaking. 3 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,840 Satellites orbiting the Earth... 4 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:34,440 ..can now look down on it... 5 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:39,480 ..in absolutely extraordinary detail. 6 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:50,880 Using cameras on the ground... 7 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,080 ..in the air... 8 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,360 ..and in space... 9 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,240 ..we can tell the story of life on Earth from a brand-new perspective. 10 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,440 At a time when the Earth's surface is changing faster 11 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,800 than at any point in human history... 12 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,280 ..we can see just what impact we're having. 13 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,040 In this episode... 14 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,960 ..satellites uncover previously unknown colonies of penguins... 15 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:34,200 PENGUIN CHIRPS 16 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,880 ..reveal mysterious ice rings that could put seal pups in danger... 17 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:48,480 ..and make surprising discoveries in Earth's most remote landscapes. 18 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,200 Behind every image... 19 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:55,920 ..there's a story. 20 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,960 This is our home... 21 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,400 ..as we've never seen it before. 22 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:07,640 CROWD CHANTING 23 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:39,760 At any given moment, over a thousand satellites are orbiting the Earth. 24 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,040 Some are capturing images across the planet's surface so detailed... 25 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,480 ..that we can now see individual animals from space... 26 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,760 ..while simultaneously following them on the ground. 27 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,080 Kenya, East Africa. 28 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:16,960 The green of a river bank. 29 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,240 Look closely, and grey bodies are just visible. 30 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,480 A family of elephants. 31 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:31,920 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 32 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,160 They have a new calf... 33 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,040 ..just over a week old. 34 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,080 ELEPHANT RUMBLES 35 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,000 ELEPHANT SQUEAKS 36 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,760 At around 100kg and growing fast, 37 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,040 she needs to drink some 12 litres of milk a day. 38 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,200 But her mother is struggling to provide it for her. 39 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,600 She hasn't fed properly in weeks. 40 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,080 In fact, the whole herd is in trouble. 41 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:36,840 ELEPHANT TRUMPETS 42 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,880 And from space... 43 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,320 ..it's clear why. 44 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:59,760 At this time of year, the family is usually found 10km north, 45 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,600 in the relative safety of Samburu National Reserve. 46 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,480 But satellite images reveal that all is not well here. 47 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,320 The ground is deep orange. 48 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:19,640 Barely any signs of water... 49 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,720 ..or green spots of vegetation. 50 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,920 Samburu is in the grip of a vicious drought. 51 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:45,200 Northern Kenya has been struck hard by the planet's changing climate. 52 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,920 INSECTS BUZZ AND CHIRRUP 53 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,840 This year has seen 25% less rain than the average. 54 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,160 The dry season has been extreme. 55 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,360 Animals are starving. 56 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:11,400 FLIES BUZZ 57 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,760 A desperate search for food has forced the family 58 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,440 out of the safety of the reserve... 59 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,800 ..to a few small patches of green, 60 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,480 dangerously close to a busy main road. 61 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,880 ELEPHANT RUMBLES 62 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,200 Scrubby vegetation provides a little to eat. 63 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,800 But here, the family could be a target for poachers. 64 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,560 On the ground, their situation is desperate. 65 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:13,160 But with cameras in space, we can see what the elephants can't. 66 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:23,680 From a satellite taking an image of the whole Earth every 15 minutes... 67 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,200 ..we can track weather patterns. 68 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:36,240 Over East Africa... 69 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,160 ..clouds are building. 70 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,880 Rain is just six days away. 71 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,480 The calf is worn out. 72 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,360 But her mother will not let her rest. 73 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:22,640 ELEPHANT HUFFS 74 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,200 It's not safe to be so close to a busy road. 75 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,400 They need to move on. 76 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,440 But she's too tired. 77 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,400 THUNDER RUMBLES 78 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:49,560 THUNDER RUMBLES 79 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,440 ELEPHANT GRUNTS 80 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,280 This is the first rain she's ever experienced... 81 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:13,920 ELEPHANT SQUEAKS 82 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,680 ..and it's hard to get to grips with. 83 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,400 Her mother encourages her to her feet. 84 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,240 She wants her baby out of this dangerous place. 85 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,840 Samburu is transforming. 86 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:37,760 Elephants, scattered by the drought, are now returning to the reserve. 87 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:55,080 And our family is with them. 88 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:25,920 Overnight, one of the other females has given birth. 89 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:52,040 The rain means the best start for a new generation, 90 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:53,600 for this vulnerable species. 91 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,600 And it's not just elephants we can see from space. 92 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,240 Satellite cameras are finding animals across the globe. 93 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:45,360 The dunes of Namibia, Southern Africa. 94 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,280 Tiny, dark spots line the edge of the surf. 95 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,320 Each one is a Cape fur seal... 96 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,440 ..in a colony several thousand strong. 97 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,240 Over the East African Plains of the Serengeti... 98 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,880 ..scientists monitor the size of wildebeest herds 99 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,320 on their annual migration. 100 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,600 From 600km above Baja, Mexico... 101 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,560 ..we can see grey whales 102 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:53,760 beneath the water... 103 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:57,960 ..arriving here to give birth. 104 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,640 This new technology is now helping wildlife conservation 105 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,000 in the most inaccessible places. 106 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,520 Antarctica. 107 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,480 A continent so hostile and remote... 108 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,200 ..that studying life here is incredibly challenging. 109 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,440 But now, satellites allow us to access 110 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,800 every square kilometre of its surface. 111 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:50,600 And this has led to an extraordinary discovery. 112 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:01,880 Brown patches, dotted across the ice. 113 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,960 Seemingly out of place... 114 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:11,280 ..but they are vital clues, helping us to find 115 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:13,920 one of our most iconic species. 116 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,760 SQUAWKING 117 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:35,920 Emperor penguins. 118 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,440 This colony is full of new life. 119 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,480 Hatched just a month before, 120 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,920 the chicks consume pre-digested fish and krill, 121 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,760 brought to them by their parents. 122 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,480 But the results of this diet can be messy. 123 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,360 Over 10,000 birds create 124 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,120 a vast amount... 125 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:42,520 of poo. 126 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,240 A problem for the colony. 127 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,440 At -20, all the water is frozen solid. 128 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,600 With nothing to drink, 129 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:09,400 Penguins eat the snow beneath their feet... 130 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,880 ..which is becoming rather unappealing. 131 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,640 They need to find fresh snow. 132 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,520 The youngest chicks, 133 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,640 who aren't yet able to keep themselves warm, 134 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,800 are carried on their parents' feet. 135 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,840 Others should be walking by now. 136 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,480 As each penguin moves to find clean snow... 137 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,560 ..the colony slowly works its way across the ice... 138 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,360 ..leaving a trail behind them. 139 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,280 Over weeks, the patches spread. 140 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,560 From space, a penguin colony would be difficult to spot 141 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,280 in this vast sea of white. 142 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:46,480 But the marks they leave behind stand out. 143 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,760 And now that scientists know what to look for, 144 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:59,440 they are finding more colonies. 145 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:08,160 So far, 26 new colonies have been discovered... 146 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,400 ..doubling the known global population of the species. 147 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,000 A discovery at a crucial time. 148 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,800 It is predicted that the sea ice on which the penguins breed 149 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:32,760 will recede, due to climate change. 150 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,400 And as a consequence, 20% of Emperor Penguins 151 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,280 could disappear in the next century. 152 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,320 From satellite, scientists are now monitoring these colonies 153 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,320 as they face an uncertain future. 154 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,760 The view from space is allowing us to make scientific breakthroughs 155 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,680 in the most remote places on the planet. 156 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:18,520 In 2017, cameras captured a crack in the Antarctic ice shelf... 157 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,400 ..450 metres wide... 158 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,680 ..and nearly 200km long. 159 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:39,480 So inaccessible, that the only way to track it 160 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,640 has been from 600km up. 161 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:51,080 Images taken over the year showed the crack growing, 162 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:56,000 until eventually, a vast piece of ice broke free. 163 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:03,000 Four times the size of Greater London, 164 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,040 it is one of the largest icebergs on record. 165 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,480 In a remote part of Alberta, Canada... 166 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:24,320 ..miles from civilisation... 167 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,600 ..a strange, arced shape... 168 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:36,320 ..in the middle of the forest. 169 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,800 This is the world's largest beaver dam. 170 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:50,520 Satellite records show that it was built over the last 30 years. 171 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:57,520 And it's now almost a kilometre long. 172 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,120 No-one knew that the species was capable of construction 173 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:05,520 on such a scale. 174 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,680 And in Mozambique, Africa... 175 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:21,440 ..a scientist scanning through satellite images 176 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:22,920 found a lost world. 177 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:36,240 An isolated rainforest, on top of cliffs almost 500 metres high. 178 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:41,920 Completely untouched and unexplored. 179 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,040 Expeditions are now being launched, 180 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:55,440 in the hope of discovering entirely new species. 181 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,720 But other images are harder to explain. 182 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:20,200 Lake Baikal, Siberia. 183 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,440 The largest body of fresh water on the planet... 184 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:36,040 ..its surface frozen solid for five months of the year. 185 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,840 But satellite images have revealed something unexpected in the ice... 186 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:10,920 ..a huge, dark ring. 187 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,400 Broken ice and meltwater 188 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,720 in a circle, over 4km across. 189 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,480 A number of these rings appear almost every year... 190 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,760 ..and in different parts of the lake... 191 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,800 ..each triggering vast areas of ice to break apart. 192 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,040 A potential disaster... 193 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,960 ..for an animal who lives on the ice. 194 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,120 The Baikal seal. 195 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,680 This pup was born in the depths of winter, 196 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,560 spending the first weeks of her life in and around an ice den. 197 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,160 In the spring, the ice will melt. 198 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,800 She has just two months to prepare for life in the water. 199 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,920 Moving around on the frozen surface 200 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,360 helps her to shed her soft baby coat. 201 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:24,000 With claws like ice picks, pups haul themselves across the ice... 202 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,240 ..bar the occasional slip-up. 203 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:57,240 She's developing the muscles needed to swim and to hunt. 204 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,720 Each day, she grows stronger. 205 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,400 But if an ice ring appears... 206 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:17,520 ..a pup without its adult coat or full swimming strength 207 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,960 could become stranded on an ice floe 208 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,040 or drown in open water. 209 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:32,600 These melting ice rings intrigued scientists, 210 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,200 who launched an investigation. 211 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,720 By studying satellite images and taking measurements 212 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:52,520 from beneath the ice, the cause of the rings has been uncovered. 213 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:01,560 Powerful warm water currents, 214 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,280 rising and swirling in circles. 215 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,640 As the ring begins to break apart, 216 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,600 satellites show that the ice across the rest of the lake is solid. 217 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:38,600 She has time to prepare for a life in the water... 218 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,240 ..once the ice finally melts. 219 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,360 Ours is a blue planet. 220 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,520 From space, we can see how water defines the landscape. 221 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,880 Ocean tributaries fan out like branches on a tree, 222 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,200 through an island off the coast of West Africa... 223 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:30,400 ..while the veins of the Yukon Delta flow into the Bering Sea, 224 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:31,760 off Alaska. 225 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:41,760 We depend so much on water that we built our cities around it. 226 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:45,800 Venice. 227 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:51,720 London. 228 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,240 Hong Kong. 229 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,640 Wherever there is water on our planet... 230 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:15,280 ..there is life. 231 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:23,600 Botswana, Africa. 232 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:33,800 In the heart of the desert is a vast, shimmering fan. 233 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:44,560 Channels of water have created a delta, 234 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:50,600 that never reaches the ocean, but disappears into the sand. 235 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,560 The Okavango. 236 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:05,280 From above, you can see a network of tracks and paths, 237 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:06,880 running through the wetland. 238 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:11,880 Crossroads... 239 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,240 ..forks in the road... 240 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:18,560 ..roundabouts. 241 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,720 Carefully constructed by Africa's most unlikely architect... 242 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,080 ..hippopotamus. 243 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:45,160 The delta is home to Botswana's largest population of hippos. 244 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,760 They wallow in pools to escape the heat. 245 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,880 But they can't escape each other. 246 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:16,760 Males defend their territory... 247 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,400 ..while juveniles try to copy them. 248 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,680 There are youngsters underfoot. 249 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:33,960 GRUNTING 250 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:43,680 And the females have had enough. 251 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:49,680 They all need just a bit more space. 252 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:11,840 As the sun begins to set and the temperature drops... 253 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:19,800 ..the hippos leave the pools to find food. 254 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,640 The best grazing spots can be more than a kilometre away, 255 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,000 through thick vegetation. 256 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:42,280 Their routes to feeding grounds are retraced daily. 257 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:54,200 Three-tonne bulldozers, keeping the pathways clear. 258 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:10,040 And, as all journeys originate in the pool, 259 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,760 the hippo tracks act like release valves... 260 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:21,080 ..allowing water and nutrients to flow deep into the delta. 261 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,440 It's this movement that creates the channels 262 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,640 that sustain so much life. 263 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:50,720 These hippo tracks have helped to create 264 00:34:50,720 --> 00:34:52,520 a tangled network of waterways... 265 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,320 ..stretching for over 10,000 square kilometres... 266 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:11,840 ..transforming a desert into an oasis 267 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,400 in the heart of Southern Africa. 268 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,760 Water isn't the only element needed for life. 269 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:40,280 From space, we can see an extraordinary phenomenon at work. 270 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:45,000 A surprising connection between two distant continents, 271 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,720 that supports millions of animal species. 272 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:57,520 A plume of orange... 273 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,480 ..hundreds of kilometres across. 274 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:08,760 Dust. 275 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:18,280 It comes from here - North Africa. 276 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:30,480 What looks like a small, white scar in the Sahara desert 277 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,520 is actually the remains of a vast lake. 278 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:44,880 Once rich in life, now a dust bowl. 279 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,080 Winds whipping across the lake bed 280 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:58,040 lift nutrient-rich Saharan dust into the air. 281 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:11,080 By following the dust plume day and night... 282 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:19,360 ..we can see it travel more than 3,000km... 283 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,360 ..over the Atlantic... 284 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,800 ..to Central and South America... 285 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:55,560 ..home to the largest tropical rainforest in the world. 286 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,880 THUNDER RUMBLES 287 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:06,360 It rains here almost every day. 288 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:15,840 But plants need more than just water to grow. 289 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:26,040 Nutrient-rich Saharan dust, 290 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:27,960 carried in the raindrops... 291 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:35,240 ..fertilises the soil... 292 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:48,800 ..feeding the forest and helping to sustain more species of animals 293 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,880 than anywhere else on Earth. 294 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:08,000 It was only with satellites that scientists were able to calculate 295 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,920 that over 27,000,000 tonnes of dust 296 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,000 makes this journey every year. 297 00:39:17,560 --> 00:39:21,360 A gift that has helped to make these rainforests 298 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:24,360 some of the most diverse on the planet. 299 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:33,480 Ancient forces are at work across our planet. 300 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:38,840 Their impact etched on the landscape. 301 00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:56,160 A 1,300km scar runs through California. 302 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:02,080 The San Andreas Fault. 303 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:09,720 Created by the shifting of tectonic plates 304 00:40:09,720 --> 00:40:11,640 over the last 30 million years. 305 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:20,680 The Grand Canyon. 306 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:27,160 Carved by the Colorado River, over millennia... 307 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:32,520 ..now over a kilometre deep. 308 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:43,680 And Uluru, Ayres Rock, in Australia 309 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:46,360 has been eroded into an island of stone... 310 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:52,440 ..over 500 million years. 311 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:02,680 But now, we can see the Earth's surface transform 312 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:04,320 in almost real-time. 313 00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:12,080 In the South Pacific, two islands... 314 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:17,680 ..become one. 315 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:29,880 New land, formed in a matter of weeks... 316 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:37,520 ..by the eruption of an underwater volcano. 317 00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:50,800 Satellites allow us to monitor dramatic change over time. 318 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:58,960 And there's one change 319 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:03,640 that fundamentally affects the lives of animals - 320 00:42:03,640 --> 00:42:05,040 the passing seasons. 321 00:42:13,240 --> 00:42:15,360 These are the Himalaya... 322 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:22,560 ..a wall of rock, stretching between India and China. 323 00:42:28,240 --> 00:42:30,280 When winter arrives, 324 00:42:30,280 --> 00:42:33,400 the Hengduan range in the East of the Himalaya 325 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:34,880 becomes locked in ice. 326 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:45,640 The temperature rarely rises above freezing. 327 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,760 Most animals leave the mountains, 328 00:42:53,760 --> 00:42:55,560 choosing lower valleys 329 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:57,360 to escape the extreme cold. 330 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:05,960 But not all. 331 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,240 Living 4,000 metres above sea level... 332 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:21,920 ..Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys... 333 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,840 ..are the world's highest living primate. 334 00:43:33,040 --> 00:43:34,640 With dense fur... 335 00:43:36,240 --> 00:43:38,840 ..and a shortened nose to avoid frostbite... 336 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:42,920 ..they're built for the cold. 337 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:50,440 This male is a year old. 338 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:57,760 Without a full adult coat, 339 00:43:57,760 --> 00:43:59,800 he huddles close to his mother for warmth. 340 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:07,720 In just a few months, he'll leave her side 341 00:44:07,720 --> 00:44:09,200 and go it alone. 342 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:16,240 Before then, there are lessons to learn. 343 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:23,360 The most important... 344 00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:28,360 ..to find food. 345 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:37,120 While other animals head down the mountain to feed, 346 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:42,040 the male must follow his family up... 347 00:44:50,240 --> 00:44:51,800 ..500 metres... 348 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:57,760 ..through some of the hardest terrain on Earth. 349 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:29,400 The slopes are shrouded in shadow. 350 00:45:35,560 --> 00:45:38,720 But there is a little sunlight on the peaks. 351 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:42,800 It takes the edge off the cold. 352 00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:56,040 But there's only lichen to eat. 353 00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:13,440 It will keep them alive, but it's far from a feast. 354 00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:26,520 These monkeys endure winter on these peaks for good reason... 355 00:46:29,240 --> 00:46:33,960 ..which becomes clear when you look down from space. 356 00:46:39,560 --> 00:46:42,920 Most of the Himalaya run west to east, 357 00:46:42,920 --> 00:46:45,560 forming a barrier to tropical air moving north. 358 00:46:49,680 --> 00:46:53,040 But the valleys of the Hengduans run north to south. 359 00:46:57,640 --> 00:47:02,600 This allows warm, moist air to funnel up the deep valleys. 360 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:12,440 By combining satellite images... 361 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:21,800 ..we can watch the mountains transform, as spring arrives. 362 00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:32,640 The tropical air increases plant growth, 363 00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:34,280 creating a unique environment. 364 00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:45,640 Amongst the lush greens, bursts of colour. 365 00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:06,200 Rhododendrons bloom in their thousands. 366 00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:22,440 By toughing it out, 367 00:48:22,440 --> 00:48:25,200 the monkeys are rewarded with a paradise. 368 00:48:32,640 --> 00:48:36,840 A secret kingdom, where they can feed without competition. 369 00:48:44,960 --> 00:48:48,200 Sweet rhododendron nectar is a real treat. 370 00:49:05,200 --> 00:49:07,800 Spring brings new life to the troop. 371 00:49:16,840 --> 00:49:18,480 With the mothers hands full... 372 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:24,440 ..it's this male's cue to start out on his own. 373 00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:29,680 Making the most of this new world... 374 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:35,320 ..before winter reclaims it again. 375 00:49:47,440 --> 00:49:49,200 While satellites allow us 376 00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:51,520 to explore Earth's most remote landscapes... 377 00:49:55,600 --> 00:49:58,080 ..we can also see our cities. 378 00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:07,320 Find famous landmarks... 379 00:50:16,120 --> 00:50:19,000 ..and even ourselves. 380 00:50:28,120 --> 00:50:32,520 In Mecca, pilgrims from across the globe come together 381 00:50:32,520 --> 00:50:34,480 to worship during the Hajj. 382 00:50:43,720 --> 00:50:48,120 In the UK, the green fields of Glastonbury 383 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:52,240 transform into the world's most iconic festival. 384 00:50:58,240 --> 00:50:59,640 In the desert of Nevada... 385 00:51:02,080 --> 00:51:08,280 ..a crescent is formed by 50,000 revellers at Burning Man festival. 386 00:51:15,560 --> 00:51:20,800 And crowds gather in the Vatican to hear the Pope speak at Easter. 387 00:51:35,560 --> 00:51:41,920 In central China is the small city of Dengfeng. 388 00:51:45,800 --> 00:51:50,960 Amongst the shapes of buildings, bright red circles. 389 00:51:55,160 --> 00:51:57,560 Shaolin Kung Fu students. 390 00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:23,640 13-year-old Xing Yu La goes to a very different kind of school. 391 00:52:23,640 --> 00:52:26,720 THEY SHOUT OUT 392 00:52:32,200 --> 00:52:34,760 The students here spend their school life 393 00:52:34,760 --> 00:52:39,040 mastering the art of Shaolin Kung Fu. 394 00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:42,000 SHOUTING 395 00:52:45,040 --> 00:52:48,320 Kung fu means hard training, 396 00:52:48,320 --> 00:52:52,680 and to be a champion takes years of dedication. 397 00:53:06,120 --> 00:53:10,360 As well as normal lessons, Xing Yu spends six hours a day... 398 00:53:12,560 --> 00:53:13,920 ..six days a week... 399 00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:18,640 ..learning multiple martial art disciplines. 400 00:53:20,480 --> 00:53:21,560 Ah! 401 00:53:25,840 --> 00:53:27,200 Ah! 402 00:53:32,440 --> 00:53:34,640 And all his training 403 00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:38,000 culminates in a very special performance. 404 00:53:59,880 --> 00:54:02,480 Xing Yu is part of a display so impressive... 405 00:54:06,320 --> 00:54:07,400 Ah! 406 00:54:08,960 --> 00:54:11,040 ..that while we film them on the ground... 407 00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:15,440 ..at the same moment, 408 00:54:15,440 --> 00:54:18,200 satellites capture the shapes they make. 409 00:54:22,040 --> 00:54:28,080 THEY SHOUT TOGETHER 410 00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:48,400 A series of precise kung fu moves... 411 00:54:52,880 --> 00:54:55,400 ..creating patterns visible far above. 412 00:54:59,320 --> 00:55:03,760 Thousands of students performing in perfect synchronicity. 413 00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:49,920 We first went into space to discover other worlds. 414 00:55:53,080 --> 00:55:57,080 But it's only when we look back that we realise 415 00:55:57,080 --> 00:56:00,680 just how special our home really is. 416 00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:10,000 Next time... 417 00:56:11,440 --> 00:56:14,520 ..the view from space reveals extraordinary landscapes... 418 00:56:17,760 --> 00:56:19,960 ..covered in strange shapes... 419 00:56:22,160 --> 00:56:23,840 ..and mysterious patterns. 420 00:56:30,400 --> 00:56:33,200 Water transforms Brazilian sand dunes. 421 00:56:39,120 --> 00:56:41,320 A lake in China disappears... 422 00:56:43,280 --> 00:56:44,720 ..leading to conflict. 423 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:52,600 And the twists and turns of the Amazon 424 00:56:52,600 --> 00:56:55,160 are the last hope for vulnerable manatees. 425 00:57:01,840 --> 00:57:03,240 This is our home... 426 00:57:04,560 --> 00:57:07,320 ..as you've never seen it before. 427 00:57:11,120 --> 00:57:16,360 The Open University has produced a poster exploring Earth from space. 428 00:57:16,360 --> 00:57:17,680 To order your free copy, call... 429 00:57:21,320 --> 00:57:22,960 Or go to... 430 00:57:25,800 --> 00:57:28,240 ..and follow the links to the Open University.