新奇事件簿 气候变化将导致世界上一半海滩消失

Rising sea levels could see the demise¹ of half of the world's beaches by the end of this century. Climate scientists predict that 50 per cent of sandy beaches along the world's coastlines could vanish over the next eight decades if climate change continues on its current path. The scientists are from the European Commission's Joint² Research Centre. They warned that the shorelines of many highly-populated areas and tourist hot-spots are threatened by erosion from climate change and surging sea levels. Areas at risk of disappearing forever include well-known, popular beaches in Australia's Surfers' Paradise, the islands of Hawaii, Brazil's Copacabana Beach, and the Costa del Sol in Spain.

海平面上升可能导致世界上一半的海滩在本世纪末消失。气候科学家预测，如果气候变化以这样的速度继续下去，那么未来80年，全球海岸线上50%的沙滩可能会消失。这些科学家来自欧盟委员会联合研究中心。他们警告称，许多人口密集地区和旅游热点的海岸线受到气候变化和海平面上升的侵蚀。有可能永远消失的区域包括著名的澳大利亚冲浪者天堂的海滩，夏威夷群岛、巴西科帕卡巴纳滩以及西班牙的太阳海岸。

The scientists reported that countries like The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau in Africa are predicted to lose over 60% of their beaches. The country to be worst affected³ is Australia, where 12,000km of coastline could end up underwater forever. The researchers wrote that: "A substantial proportion of the world's sandy coastline is already eroding⁴, a situation that could be exacerbated⁵ by climate change. This...could result in the near extinction⁶ of the world's sandy beaches by the end of the century." Research co-author Dr Michalis Vousdoukas said there were two important ways we could reduce this trend and save the beaches. He said we had to, "reduce emissions⁷ and manage our coastline in a more sustainable way".

科学家报告称，非洲的冈比亚和几内亚比绍等国家预计将失去60%以上的海滩。受影响最严重的国家是澳大利亚，该国长达12000公里的海岸线可能会永远淹没在水下。研究人员写道：“世界上相当大一部分的沙质海岸线已经受到侵蚀，这种情况可能会因气候变化而加剧。这个可能导致本世纪末世界上的沙滩几近灭绝。”研究合著者Michalis Vousdoukas博士表示有两种重要的方法可以缓解这种趋势拯救海滩。他表示我们需要“减少排放并以更加可持续的方式管理我们的海岸线”。

1 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

5 exacerbated   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。
• The drugs they gave her only exacerbated the pain. 他们给她吃的药只是加重了她的痛楚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

7 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。