万物简史 第361期:进入对流层(2)

 　　From ground level to its highest point, the troposphere (or "turning sphere") 从地面到最高点，对流层（亦称“对流圈”）

　　is about ten miles thick at the equator and no more than six or seven miles high in the temperate¹ latitudes² where most of us live. 在赤道位置上大约为16公里厚，在我们大多数人居住的温带位置上还不足10—11公里厚，

　　Eighty percent of the atmosphere's mass, virtually all the water, and thus virtually all the weather are contained within this thin and wispy³ layer. 80%的大气质量，实际际上所有叫变化，都包含在这又薄又稀的一层里。

　　There really isn't much between you and oblivion. 你和苍穹之间其实没有多少东西。

　　Beyond the troposphere is the stratosphere. 对流层的上面是平流层。

　　When you see the top of a storm cloud flattening⁴ out into the classic anvil⁵ shape, 当你看到一片雷雨云的顶端扩展成典型的砧形，

　　you are looking at the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere. 你是在看着对流层和平疏层的交界之处。

　　This invisible ceiling is known as the tropopause and was discovered in 1902 by a Frenchman in a balloon, Leon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort. 这个看不见的天花板被称之为对流层顶，是一位法国人于1902年乘气球发现的。他的名字叫莱昂-菲利普·恭瑟朗·德·傅尔特。

　　Pause in this sense doesn't mean to stop momentarily but to cease altogether; it's from the same Greek root as menopause. “顶”在这里的意恩不是“暂停”，而是“封顶”，它与“绝经”源自同一希腊语词根。

　　Even at its greatest extent, the tropopause is not very distant. 即使在对流层最高的地方，对流层顶离我们并不遥远。

　　A fast elevator of the sort used in modern skyscrapers⁶ could get you there in about twenty minutes, 现代摩天大楼使用的快速电梯只要用20分钟左右就能把你送到那里，

　　though you would be well advised not to make the trip. 但是我劝你还是别做那种施行。

　　Such a rapid ascent⁷ without pressurization would, 在没有密封的条件下这佯快速上升，

　　at the very least, result in severe cerebral⁸ and pulmonary edemas, a dangerous excess of fluids in the body's tissues. 少说你也会得严重的脑水肿和肺水肿，组织里的体液会增加到危险的程度。

　　When the doors opened at the viewing platform, anyone inside would almost certainly be dead or dying. 当观景台的门打开的时候，里面的任何人几乎肯定会呜呼哀哉或奄奄一息。

　　Even a more measured ascent would be accompanied by a great deal of discomfort⁹. 即使攀升的速度比较缓慢，你也会觉得很不舒服。

1 temperate   

adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的

参考例句：

• Asia extends across the frigid,temperate and tropical zones.亚洲地跨寒、温、热三带。
• Great Britain has a temperate climate.英国气候温和。

2 latitudes   

纬度

参考例句：

• Latitudes are the lines that go from east to west. 纬线是从东到西的线。
• It was the brief Indian Summer of the high latitudes. 这是高纬度地方的那种短暂的晚秋。

3 wispy   

adj.模糊的；纤细的

参考例句：

• Grey wispy hair straggled down to her shoulders.稀疏的灰白头发披散在她肩头。
• The half moon is hidden behind some wispy clouds.半轮月亮躲在淡淡的云彩之后。

4 flattening   

n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词

参考例句：

• Flattening of the right atrial border is also seen in constrictive pericarditis. 右心房缘变平亦见于缩窄性心包炎。
• He busied his fingers with flattening the leaves of the book. 他手指忙着抚平书页。

5 anvil   

n.铁钻

参考例句：

• The blacksmith shaped a horseshoe on his anvil.铁匠在他的铁砧上打出一个马蹄形。
• The anvil onto which the staples are pressed was not assemble correctly.订书机上的铁砧安装错位。

6 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。

7 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

8 cerebral   

adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的

参考例句：

• Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。
• He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

9 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。