VOA慢速英语2009-EXPLORATIONS - Antarctica: A Scientific Labo

VOICE ONE:

I'm Bob Doughty¹.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Today we travel south to one of the coldest, windiest and least populated places in the world, Antarctica. The word "Antarctica" comes from a Greek root meaning "opposite to the north."
　
The Leverett Glacier² on Antarctica is about 100 kilometers long

This huge continent on the Earth's South Pole covers about fourteen million square kilometers. About ninety-eight percent of this area is covered in ice. Join us as we explore the history of Antarctica and its environmental and scientific importance.

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VOICE ONE:

Every year, scientists from over twenty-seven countries carry out research in a place that is like no other in the world. Scientists from many areas of study come to Antarctica. They include biologists, astronomers⁴, physicists⁵ and geologists⁶. There are always exciting discoveries being made in this huge natural laboratory.

For example, scientists recently discovered a group of small organisms that appear to have lived for millions of years under the ice. The water under the ice is very salty and contains many kinds of minerals including iron. The bacteria use these minerals to survive. Jill Mikucki led the team of scientists who explored an area under an ice formation called Taylor Glacier.

JILL MIKUCKI: "We have a lot to learn from the microbes that survive in these kinds of environments and have adapted to these cold, low-energy systems. They're very efficient."

VOICE TWO:
　
Researchers lowering the underwater robot into Lake Bonney

Not far from Taylor Glacier, researchers for the American space Agency are using the icy Lake Bonney to test an underwater robot vehicle. The vehicle is helping⁷ scientists to see for the first time huge areas underneath⁸ the lake that were otherwise impossible to explore. Developing this kind of vehicle could be useful for future space operations. Scientists hope this vehicle could permit them to one day explore the icy oceans on Jupiter's moon Europa.

VOICE ONE:

One of the most important subjects studied on Antarctica is climate change. Scientists say the thinning ozone⁹ layer over the South Pole makes climate change take place more quickly than in other areas of the world.

Yves Frenot is deputy¹⁰ director of the French Polar Institute. He says that in the Antarctic Peninsula, scientists estimate that climate change has caused temperatures to increase by two or three degrees Celsius¹¹ over the past fifty years. He says this is a very huge increase compared to what has happened in the past.

Signs of climate change include an increase in rain when there used to be only snow, new plant life, and melting ice sheets. The melting ice resulting from climate change would affect coastal¹² areas around the world. But scientists disagree about how much sea levels could rise if Antarctica's ice sheets continue to melt.

One group of researchers published its findings in Science magazine last month. Jonathan Bamber of the Bristol Glaciology Center in England led the study. The team predicted sea levels would rise by about three meters. This is three meters less than other studies have estimated. Most scientists agree that climate change is a serious problem that requires the attention of people and governments around the world.

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VOICE TWO:
　
Captain James Cook

There is no official agreement about who discovered Antarctica. Since ancient times, thinkers including the Greek astronomer³ Ptolemy believed in the existence of a huge continent on the South Pole. They gave a name to this mysterious continent: Terra Australis Incognita, or the "Unknown Southern Land."

The English explorer James Cook came looking for this undiscovered continent in the seventeen seventies. But he was looking for a much larger continent. On his third trip, he and his team circled Antarctica. His boat crossed the Antarctic Circle in three places, but he still failed to sight land. At the time, this was the furthest south anyone had ever traveled.

VOICE ONE:

Around eighteen twenty, crew members on three different ships claimed to have sighted Antarctica. These were the American sailor Nathaniel Palmer, the Russian Captain Fabian Bellingshausen and the British Captain Edward Bransfield. The race by countries to explore Antarctica had begun.

Looking at a modern day map of Antarctica gives clues about its first explorers. In eighteen thirty-nine the American Naval¹³ officer Charles Wilkes led an expedition to the continent. He mapped over two thousand kilometers of the continent's coastline. His efforts helped prove that Antarctica was in fact a continent. The Wilkes Land area is named for him.

In eighteen forty-one, the British navy officer James Ross discovered areas now called the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf. Other famous twentieth century explorers of Antarctica included Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen, and Richard Evelyn Byrd.

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VOICE TWO:

It might seem surprising that a freezing continent with no native human population would be defined¹⁴ by a legal agreement signed by over forty countries. Antarctica is governed by a collection of agreements known as the Antarctic Treaty System.

The main agreement of the system, the Antarctic Treaty, was signed by twelve countries in nineteen fifty-nine. It went into effect two years later.

Seven of the twelve countries claim Antarctic territory, although the United States does not recognize the claims. These seven are Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. The other five countries that signed the treaty were Belgium, Japan, South Africa, the Soviet¹⁵ Union and the United States.

VOICE ONE:

The main goal of the Antarctic Treaty is to support scientific research and the exchange of information. The treaty also guarantees that Antarctica will continue to be used for peaceful purposes and will not become the object of international dispute. The treaty bans nuclear explosions, nuclear waste, and any military activity such as weapons testing. The treaty also does not recognize, dispute or establish claims of territorial¹⁶ ownership by a country.

Since nineteen fifty-nine, thirty-five other countries have joined the treaty. Some countries are voting members, while others are non-voting members.

VOICE TWO:

Sharing Antarctica for science makes sense. Researchers have found that working together in the severe environment saves them time and money. Antoine Guichard agrees. He is part of the National Antarctic Programs.

ANTOINCE GUICHARD: "It is so expensive that if you don't help each other, usually you just don't manage. And now with Antarctic science being really a global science and part of understanding how the world works, it is becoming really vital that everybody works together."

VOICE ONE:

The treaty also calls for countries to gather for Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. The meetings used to be held about once every two years. Now, the group meets yearly. In April, the group met in Baltimore, Maryland. About four hundred diplomats¹⁷, scientists, and Antarctic program supervisors¹⁸ from forty-seven countries met. They discussed protecting the environment, supporting science, and controlling travel to Antarctica.

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VOICE TWO:

Travel was an important subject at the last Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting because the continent has become a popular place for adventurous¹⁹ visitors.

Last year, about forty-five thousand travelers visited the continent. The number of visitors has increased by ten times in the past fifteen years. Large ships that travel to the area sometimes have accidents resulting in leaks of gasoline or oil. These chemicals can have a very damaging effect on krill, sea creatures that are an important part of the food chain in Antarctic waters.

Treaty members agreed to approve rules banning ships carrying more than five hundred travelers. And, the ships cannot bring on land more than one hundred passengers at a time. Rules would also call for new requirements for lifeboats on these ships.

VOICE ONE:

But visitors are not the only concern. More and more scientific research stations are also affecting the environment. There are about sixty research stations on the continent. Jose Retamales is the director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute.

JOSE RETAMALES: "Half the buildings you have seen, they were not there five years ago. The Chinese station, the Korean Station, they're new buildings. I don't think we should have so many stations in Antarctica."

VOICE TWO:

Research stations are taking steps to protect the environment. For example, they are reusing materials and heating buildings in a more environmentally friendly way. The scientists on Antarctica know better than anyone about the effects of pollution and human behavior on this important treasure of a continent.

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VOICE ONE:

This program was written and produced by Dana Demange. I'm Bob Doughty.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus. You can find transcripts²⁰, MP3s and podcasts of our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

3 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

4 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 physicists   

物理学家( physicist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• For many particle physicists, however, it was a year of frustration. 对于许多粒子物理学家来说，这是受挫折的一年。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
• Physicists seek rules or patterns to provide a framework. 物理学家寻求用法则或图式来构成一个框架。

6 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

9 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

10 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

11 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

12 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。

13 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

14 defined   

adj 定义的; 清晰的

参考例句：

• These categories are not well defined. 这些类别划分得不太明确。
• The powers of a judge are defined by law. 法官的权限是由法律规定的。

15 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

16 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

17 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

19 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

20 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句