新奇事件簿 噪音污染危及海洋生物

Human-made noise pollution in the Earth’s oceans and seas is becoming a serious threat to marine¹ wildlife. Scientists report that there is hardly an underwater place left where marine mammals can live in peace and quiet. Dozens of species of whale, dolphin, turtle and other creatures rely on sound to communicate, find mates and hunt for food. Their increasingly noisy environment is making it more and more difficult to lead a normal life. This is according to a report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), called "Ocean Noise: Turn it Down”. The environmental group says noise from shipping², military sonar, oil and gas surveys, offshore³ construction and marine sports has reached dangerous levels for sea life.

噪音污染正对海洋生物构成严重威胁。据科学家报道，海底将“永无宁日”。海龟、海豚、鲸鱼等数十种生物需要靠声波进行交流、交配、觅食。由于噪音污染愈演愈烈，它们的生活并不太平。这是国际爱护动物基金会所公布的一项名叫“海洋噪音：静悄悄”的报告。据该环保组织所说，海洋噪音包括航运、军方声纳测试、油气勘探、海上作业以及海上运动，这些已经对海洋生物构成了严重威胁。

The IFAW says the distance over which blue whales can communicate is down by 90 per cent. It also reports that in the past decade, many whales have become beached after being disorientated because of loud noise. The group also warns that noise pollution is only going to get worse. It highlighted the use of seismic⁴ surveys as one example of the extent of the problem. These generate incredibly loud sounds every ten seconds that can travel 3,000 km. There are 90 survey ships active in the oceans today. In addition, the number of ships sailing the seas will double by 2025. Mark Simmonds, a conservation spokesman, said, "man-made noise is already triggering a kind of acoustic⁵ fog,” and called for a “response to noise pollution in the underwater world”.

据国际爱护动物基金会所说，蓝鲸的交流距离下降了90%。还报告称在过去十年间，因噪音污染，许多鲸鱼因迷失方向而搁浅。该组织还警告称，噪音污染愈演愈烈。该组织还特别提及了地震勘测对海洋的影响程度。勘测船每隔10秒就会产生巨响，声速达到了3000公里。如今，海洋上有90艘地震勘测船。到2025年，船只数量将增加一倍。环保发言人马克·西蒙兹表示称：“噪音污染已经引发了“声雾”，并呼吁人们采取行动。”

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

3 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

4 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

5 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。