北京过度抽取地下水 每年下沉11厘米

 China's capital is known for its horrendous¹ smog and occasional sandstorms. Yet one of its major environmental threats lies underground: Beijing is sinking.

中国的首都北京以可怕的雾霾和偶尔发生的沙尘暴远近闻名。而一个重要的环境威胁却被大家忽略了：北京正在下沉。

Excessive pumping of groundwater is causing the geology under the city to collapse², according to a new study using satellite imagery that reveals parts of Beijing – particularly its central business district – are subsiding³ each year by as much as 11 centimetres, or more than four inches.

一项根据卫星图像作出的最新研究结果显示，过度抽取地下水导致北京地下结构出现塌陷。北京部分地区，特别是中央商务区，每年下沉多达11厘米，也就是超过4英寸。

The authors of the study warn that continued subsidence poses a safety threat to the city of more than 2o million, with "a strong impact on train operations" one of the predictions.

研究报告的作者提醒道，持续的下沉对这座人口超过两千万的城市构成了安全威胁，其中一个预测就是"将对列车运行造成很大影响"。

北京过度抽取地下水 每年下沉11厘米

The study on Beijing's subsidence has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Remote Sensing and is based on InSAR, a type of radar⁴ that monitors land elevation⁵ changes.

这项有关北京下沉的研究发表在同行评议期刊《遥感科学》上。研究基于干涉合成孔径测量技术，这是一种监测地面高程信息变化的雷达技术。

It was written by a team of seven researchers. "We are currently carrying out a detailed⁶ analysis of the impacts of subsidence on critical infrastructure⁷ (eg high-speed railways) in the Beijing plain," they said in an email to the Guardian⁸. "Hopefully a paper summarising our findings will come out later this year."

该报告是由7位成员组成的一研究小组发布的。他们在给《卫报》的一封电邮中写道："我们目前正在进行一项北京平原地区地表下沉对关键基础设施影响的详细分析（比如高铁）。希望能在今年晚些时候发表一份能概括我们研究结果的论文。"

Beijing sits in a dry plain where groundwater has accumulated over millennia⁹. As wells are drilled and the water table drops, the underlying¹⁰ soil compacts, much like a dried-out sponge.

北京坐落于干燥的平原地区，这儿的地下水经过了数千年的累积。随着钻井抽取地下水，地下水位有所下降，地下的土壤更加紧密，就像干涸的海绵一样。

The study finds that the entire city is sinking but the subsidence is most pronounced in Beijing's Chaoyang district, which has boomed since 1990 with skyscrapers¹¹, ringroads and other development. The researchers say the uneven¹² nature of the subsidence in some areas poses risks to buildings and other infrastructure.

研究发现，整个城市都在下沉，而朝阳区下沉最严重。自上世纪90年代以来，朝阳区繁荣发展，高楼大厦和环路不断涌现。研究人员表示，一些地区下沉不均匀的特性会对建筑物和其他基础设施造成威胁。

Tens of thousands of water wells are thought to exist in and around Beijing, many of them used in farming and landscaping. The state has regulatory power over installation of wells but is inconsistent in applying it, according to one leading Chinese environmentalist.

据悉，北京及周边地区有数万口水井，其中很多用于农田灌溉和绿化。国家对打井有监管权，但据一位领头的环保人士表示，实际执行情况并不理想。

"There are some rules but the enforcement is doubtful," said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing. Ma said he wasn't surprised subsidence was relatively¹³ high in the Chaoyang district given its rapid growth of recent decades. He expected it to keep moving east as the city sprawled¹⁴ in that direction.

公众环境研究中心主任马俊说道："确实有一些监管规则，但执行成效令人怀疑。"马俊表示，他对朝阳区地表下沉速度更快并不惊讶。因为朝阳区近几十年来发展非常快。他预计随着整个城市向东扩展，地表下沉将会继续向东延伸。

Other cities around the world are experiencing subsidence caused by excessive water pumping or other factors. Mexico City is sinking by up to 28cm a year. Bangkok is dropping annually¹⁵ by as much as 12cm, similar to Beijing, according to the Remote Sensing researchers.

根据《遥感科学》的研究人员表示，世界上许多其他城市也受到了过度抽取地下水或其他因素导致的地表下沉的困扰。墨西哥城每年下沉多达28厘米，曼谷每年下沉达12厘米，与北京类似。

1 horrendous   

adj.可怕的，令人惊惧的

参考例句：

• He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.他形容这是自己一生中最可怕的经历。
• The mining industry in China has a horrendous safety record.中国的煤矿工业具有令人不安的安全记录。

2 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

3 subsiding   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• The flooded river was subsiding rapidly. 泛滥的河水正在迅速退落。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gradually the tension was subsiding, gradually the governor was relenting. 风潮渐渐地平息了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

4 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

5 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

6 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

9 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

10 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

11 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

12 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

13 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

14 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

15 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。