Earth and Sky:Politics of CO2 二氧化碳的影响

Politics of CO2 二氧化碳的影响

Mention global warming to a room full of politicians, and you might just start an argument. But one thing most everyone can agree on is the need for more research. Learn more about the next phase of climate study -- today on Earth and Sky.

DB: This is Earth and Sky. When we burn fossil fuels, we release carbon dioxide -- or CO2 -- into the atmosphere -- and contribute to global warming.

Steven Wofsy: I think what we're really missing is a coherent program of research to try to understand the factors that influence atmospheric¹ CO2 in the U.S. I was part of a group that wrote a plan to do this. The plan was very well received. It looked like it was on track to get quite significant funding from the federal government.

We finished our work on this plan on the 7th of September, 2001. And then something happened on the 11th of September that put the brakes on it.DB: Wofsy worries that climate research will suffer while the U.S. fights terrorism. But he's glad the issue hasn't been partisan².Steven Wofsy: It would have been well received by a Gore³ administration if there was one, and it was well received by the Bush administration. People, in general, recognize that as long as there's a demand to control CO2 emissions⁴, knowledge of the factors that regulate atmospheric CO2 is really essential to have. And it doesn't matter whether you're in favor of imposing⁵ controls on emissions, or you're not in favor -- you know that it's going to be an issue. And knowledge is, therefore, something of value to you. DB: More tomorrow. Special thanks to the National Science Foundation -- where discoveries begin. I'm Deborah Byrd for Earth and Sky.

1 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

2 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。