This June, South Florida PBS’ Emmy-award winning original series, Changing Seas, returns with four brand-new and engaging episodes.
“The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure,” takes viewers on an amazing journey to a remote underwater island northwest of San Francisco. Protected inside a National Marine Sanctuary, the Cordell Bank is an ecological hot spot for marine life – attracting birds, sea turtles and marine mammals from thousands of miles away. Now climate change threatens the ecological balance of this highly productive region, and experts are conducting regular monitoring to document and understand changes to the ecosystem.
Episode 2 explores the various harmful algal blooms that have plagued the sunshine state in recent years. These “Toxic Waters” are impacting the health of humans and wildlife, while devastating local economies and tourism. The program features scientists who study the blooms, which range from red tide to an overgrowth of sargassum, to understand what causes them, how they impact us, and how we can stop them.
Next, audiences learn about the devastating impacts Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is having on Florida’s iconic coral reefs. “Corals in Crisis” showcases scientists from academia, the private sector, as well as state and federal agencies, who are working together closely to find the cause of the disease, treat the ill, and restore these cities of the sea to their former glory.
And last, but certainly not least, viewers journey to Maui, Hawaii, to explore “The Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song.” It is in these breeding grounds that the male whales perform their elaborate and haunting song. Experts are studying the purpose of this song and what it might tell them about the animals’ overall fitness.
“We’re excited to share such a variety of new topics with our viewers, ranging from pressing environmental issues to cutting-edge scientific discoveries,” says Series Producer Alexa Elliott.
When to Watch
WPBT:
Wednesday, June 19th, 8-9 pm “The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure” & “Toxic Waters”
Wednesday, June 26th, 8-9 pm “Corals in Crisis” & “Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song”
WXEL:
Sunday, June 30th, 9-11pm “The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure,” “Toxic Waters,”
“Corals in Crisis” and “Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song”
###
About Changing Seas
For the last eleven years, Changing Seas has taken viewers on exciting adventures to the heart of our blue planet. The series goes to sea with scientists, giving audiences a first-hand look at how oceanographers and other experts study earth’s last frontier. Produced by South Florida PBS, Changing Seas has aired on 95% of public television stations in the U.S. and in more than 39 countries across the globe. The series is distributed nationally by American Public Television.
Major funding for Season 11 of this series was provided by The Batchelor Foundation, encouraging people to preserve and protect America’s underwater resources. Additional funding was provided by The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation, the Do Unto Others Trust, and Skip and Diane Day.
About South Florida PBS
South Florida PBS, Florida’s largest public media company, connects organizations and institutions across our region and preserves South Florida's history. Leading the way in this global society, South Florida PBS serves diverse communities from Key West to the Sebastian Inlet and from the Atlantic Ocean west to Lake Okeechobee. South Florida PBS is committed to creating and presenting unique arts, education and cultural heritage programming, and serves as a model for telling unique local stories across a wide variety of media platforms.
“The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure,” takes viewers on an amazing journey to a remote underwater island northwest of San Francisco. Protected inside a National Marine Sanctuary, the Cordell Bank is an ecological hot spot for marine life – attracting birds, sea turtles and marine mammals from thousands of miles away. Now climate change threatens the ecological balance of this highly productive region, and experts are conducting regular monitoring to document and understand changes to the ecosystem.
Episode 2 explores the various harmful algal blooms that have plagued the sunshine state in recent years. These “Toxic Waters” are impacting the health of humans and wildlife, while devastating local economies and tourism. The program features scientists who study the blooms, which range from red tide to an overgrowth of sargassum, to understand what causes them, how they impact us, and how we can stop them.
Next, audiences learn about the devastating impacts Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is having on Florida’s iconic coral reefs. “Corals in Crisis” showcases scientists from academia, the private sector, as well as state and federal agencies, who are working together closely to find the cause of the disease, treat the ill, and restore these cities of the sea to their former glory.
And last, but certainly not least, viewers journey to Maui, Hawaii, to explore “The Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song.” It is in these breeding grounds that the male whales perform their elaborate and haunting song. Experts are studying the purpose of this song and what it might tell them about the animals’ overall fitness.
“We’re excited to share such a variety of new topics with our viewers, ranging from pressing environmental issues to cutting-edge scientific discoveries,” says Series Producer Alexa Elliott.
When to Watch
WPBT:
Wednesday, June 19th, 8-9 pm “The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure” & “Toxic Waters”
Wednesday, June 26th, 8-9 pm “Corals in Crisis” & “Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song”
WXEL:
Sunday, June 30th, 9-11pm “The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure,” “Toxic Waters,”
“Corals in Crisis” and “Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song”
###
About Changing Seas
For the last eleven years, Changing Seas has taken viewers on exciting adventures to the heart of our blue planet. The series goes to sea with scientists, giving audiences a first-hand look at how oceanographers and other experts study earth’s last frontier. Produced by South Florida PBS, Changing Seas has aired on 95% of public television stations in the U.S. and in more than 39 countries across the globe. The series is distributed nationally by American Public Television.
Major funding for Season 11 of this series was provided by The Batchelor Foundation, encouraging people to preserve and protect America’s underwater resources. Additional funding was provided by The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation, the Do Unto Others Trust, and Skip and Diane Day.
About South Florida PBS
South Florida PBS, Florida’s largest public media company, connects organizations and institutions across our region and preserves South Florida's history. Leading the way in this global society, South Florida PBS serves diverse communities from Key West to the Sebastian Inlet and from the Atlantic Ocean west to Lake Okeechobee. South Florida PBS is committed to creating and presenting unique arts, education and cultural heritage programming, and serves as a model for telling unique local stories across a wide variety of media platforms.
