纪录片《为何无法预测地震》 第14期:7毫米滑动的后果

I sometimes worry there's a snake under here.

我有时会担心下面有蛇

Not this time.

这次没有

There is an element of, er,

这有一点点

a Heath Robinson contraption about it.

像个荒谬的小发明

It's a very simple gadget¹,

它是个非常简单的装置

it's a cylinder² with, um, a rod,

一个装了个铁轴的圆柱容器

the rod is connected across from the other side of the fault.

这根铁轴从断层的另一边连过来

When the fault slips

当断层滑动

it pulls this rod away

就会拉动这根铁轴

from the metal sensor³.

偏离这个金属感应器

It has a range of about, er...

它可拉伸的长度大约是

This one is about 30mm

大约是30毫米

and so because there's 7mm of slip each year,

这里每年会有7毫米的滑动

about every four years I have to reset⁴ it.

大约每四年我会重设一次

But first, download the data.

不过 先要将数据下载下来

I'll get my computer out.

我把电脑拿出来

7mm of slip might not sound like much

7毫米的滑移也许不算什么

but it could have a devastating⁵ effect.

但可能会带来毁灭性的后果

150km up the fault in San Francisco

在旧金山断层以上150千米处

the tectonic plates are locked,

构造板块被卡住

and eventually this pent-up energy

下面积蓄的能量最后

will be released in the form of an earthquake.

会以地震的形式释放

1 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

2 cylinder   

n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸

参考例句：

• What's the volume of this cylinder?这个圆筒的体积有多少？
• The cylinder is getting too much gas and not enough air.汽缸里汽油太多而空气不足。

3 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

4 reset   

v.重新安排，复位；n.重新放置；重放之物

参考例句：

• As soon as you arrive at your destination,step out of the aircraft and reset your wristwatch.你一到达目的地，就走出飞机并重新设置手表时间。
• He is recovering from an operation to reset his arm.他做了一个手臂复位手术，正在恢复。

5 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。