ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Antarctic Ice

By Cynthia Kirk
ENVIRONMENT REPORT -February 1, 2002: Antarctic¹ Ice

This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

New measurements² show that ice in West Antarctica is thickening. Scientists
concerned about global warming had worried that higher temperatures could melt
the huge ice sheet in Antarctica. That could cause sea levels around the world to
rise. However, some experts have said there is little evidence that global warming is
responsible for melting the ice sheet.

Antarctica is the continent that surrounds the South Pole. It is the coldest and iciest
area in the world. Stormy waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans separate
Antarctica from other continents.

The Antarctic icecap is a thick layer of ice and snow that buries most of the
continent. If the ice melted, the earth’s oceans would rise and flood coastal³ cities
around the world.

Large, flat sheets of the icecap called ice shelves float in water near Antarctica. The
Ross Ice Shelf is the largest one. Several rivers of the West Antarctica ice sheet flow
into the ice shelf. Huge pieces of the ice shelf break off and slowly melt into the sea.
The West Antarctica ice sheet currently⁴ covers more than nine -hundred-thousand square kilometers.

The new study was done by researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California
at Santa Cruz. They studied several ice streams in West Antarctica that lead into the Ross Ice Shelf. The ice
streams are similar to large flowing rivers of ice. The researchers used new satellite radar⁵ to measure the
thickness of the ice.

Earlier studies suggested that the ice was thinning and quickly moving toward⁶ the sea. However, new satellite
information found that the Ross ice streams are gaining ice, not losing it. Scientists said there were an average of
twenty-six-thousand-million tons more ice each year. Earlier studies showed a loss of almost twenty -one-
thousand-million tons a year.

The scientists said they found strong evidence of ice growth. Yet, measurements taken by researchers have
shown that the ice sheet has been slowly melting since the end of the last ice age about eleven -thousand years
ago. Some researchers say they believe the Earth ’s internal⁷ heat may be causing the ice sheet to thin or thicken
over time.

This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

 

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1 Antarctic   

adj.南极(区)的；n.(the A-)南极洲，南极圈

参考例句：

• The Antarctic is a mountainous area.南极洲是一个多山的地区。
• It is well known that penguins live in the Antarctic.企鹅生活在南极洲是众所周知的。

2 measurements   

n.量度( measurement的名词复数 )；测量；衡量；（量得的）尺寸

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first. 第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

5 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

6 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

7 internal   

adj.内的，内部的；国内的，内政的

参考例句：

• He is talking to Tom on the internal telephone.他正在内线电话上与汤姆交谈。
• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。