时差N小时 鲸鱼也怕被晒伤?(上)（在线收听）

The ozone layer is thinner than it used to be.

如今的臭氧层比过去要稀薄很多。

This fact has motivated humans to keep themselves protected from the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, rays.

这就促使人类保护自身免受来自太阳的紫外线或射线的伤害。

But just because we can protect ourselves from these rays doesn’t mean that they don’t still exist–they exist, and are targeting the most vulnerable marine mammal, the whale.

不过，我们有办法保护自身免受其伤害并不意味着紫外线不存在。它们确实存在，并且正在伤害地球上最脆弱的海洋哺乳动物---鲸鱼。

Researchers at the University of London have been studying the effects of UV rays on whales in the Gulf of California for over three years.

三年多来，伦敦大学的研究人员一直在研究紫外线对加利福尼亚湾鲸鱼的影响。

Whale skin samples taken during this study have shown an increased prevalence in sun damage, visible in the form of lesions and blisters.

该研究提取的皮肤样本显示，鲸鱼皮肤晒伤率增加，它们身上出现明显的损伤和水泡。

Their study has shown that like humans, lighter-skinned whales are more susceptible to skin damage caused by the sun.

研究显示，和人类一样，肤色较浅的鲸鱼更易受到紫外线的伤害。

Unlike humans, whales are unable to protect themselves they are forced to come to the surface to breathe, where they are fully exposed to the sun’s harsh rays.

但鲸鱼却无法像人类那样保护自己，因为它们不得不浮出海面呼吸，而此时它们完全暴露在强烈的紫外线下。