VOA慢速英语2014 科学家警告珊瑚礁受到威胁

 

Scientists Warn of Threat to Coastal¹ Reefs 科学家警告珊瑚礁受到威胁

American scientists are warning of a threat to the world’s coral and rocky reefs. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric² Administration has identified four reasons for the threat. They are human population growth, the warming of Earth’s atmosphere, pollution and overfishing – catching³ too many fish. 

The state of California has one of the best habitats for sea life in the world. But the same four factors are endangering California’s rocky reefs and kelp forests.

Erica Fellins is with Reef Check -- an international non-profit group.

“I’ve  seen the kelp go from really thick to really, really thin. But is important to monitor it.

Erica Fellins and hundreds of other volunteer divers⁴ are trained to examine the health of kelp forests and coral and rocky reefs around California. This past summer, her group documented a 25-percent decrease in more than 20 different fish populations since 1970.

Reef Check is part of a growing “citizen science” movement in the United States. Stephen Campbell is a citizen scientist. His job is to watch over the rocky reefs around the Channel Islands, near the coast of Santa Barbara.

“Reefs are really sensitive to temperature and ocean acidity⁵.  So with global climate change happening, you are having rising sea levels, warming water, and increased acidification…So it just serves as a proxy⁶ for marine⁷ health.”

The Channel Islands are considered a Marine Protected Area. That means people can dive, travel by boat and dive with snorkel⁸ equipment in and around the islands. But fishing is banned during some times. The Reef Check volunteers examine reef conditions year round. They note, for example, any changes in size and shape.

Their duties include characterizing – describing – the reef. For example, it may contain small life forms or algae⁹. They also note the composition of the reef. Is it sand? How coarse are the sand’s grains?

Reef Check works with nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Stephen Campbell and other citizen scientists are helping¹⁰ to fulfill¹¹ a need. They are helping to look after more than 1,600 kilometers of coastline with rough seas.  There are also a limited number of government employees to do underwater studies. 

Mr. Campbell says that in California, getting information on reef diversity and giving that information to decision-makers is becoming more common. He says the state is at the forefront of protecting marine environments. 

Fish life is decreasing. But the report from Reef Check also showed hopeful signs of recovery in California’s Marine Protected Areas. I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story                                                        

coral – n.  hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the remains¹² of small creatures     

coral reef –adj. and n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water

kelp – n. a kind of brown seaweed

proxy - n. a person who is given the power to do something.   

composition – n. the combination of parts or elements that make up something -

coarse – adj. made up of large pieces; not fine

1 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。

2 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

5 acidity   

n.酸度，酸性

参考例句：

• This plant prefers alkaline soil,though it will readily tolerate some acidity.这种植物在酸性土壤中也能生存，但硷性土壤更加适宜。
• Gastric acidity would not prevent the organism from passing into the gut.胃的酸度不能防止细菌进入肠道。

6 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

7 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。

8 snorkel   

n.泳者所戴的通气管，潜水艇的吸、排气装置

参考例句：

• With a snorkel,however,a diver can stay under water for quite a long time.潜水员携带一根通气管就可以在水下呆很长时间。
• I did buy a mask and fins and a snorkel.我买了面镜、蛙鞋和一个呼吸管。

9 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

10 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。

11 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。