In the late 1900s, polar explorers often used sleds to haul supplies over the ice. Today Børge Ousland, a Norwegian polar explorer, frequently uses kayaks to carry gear and food. Ousland surveys ice caps, large areas of ice at the North and South poles. The ice caps are melting because of rising temperatures. That’s why Ousland must now explore and photograph the region in a boat.
“Scientists give the hard numbers and facts, but you also need some pictures in your head to go with those numbers,” Ousland says. His mission is to document the effects of climate change on the 20 largest ice caps.