科学家称海平面将继续上升

Scientists: Rising Sea Levels to Continue 科学家称海平面将继续上升

Scientists say sea levels are rising and will continue to do so into the future. Coastal¹ communitiesaround the world are already experiencing the impact of  rising seas. Many cities and towns aretaking steps to deal with this new reality.

Photographers have taken pictures to document those efforts. Their photos are part of an exhibitcalled "Sink or Swim: Designing for a Sea Change." It can be seen at the Aquarium² of the Pacific, inLong Beach, California. There, experts explain the causes of the rising seas and how people aretrying to adapt to the changes. 

Disastrous³ storms and floods could be a new reality around the world. That is the opinion ofoceanographer Jerry Schubel. He is president of the Aquarium of the Pacific.

“Global climate change is resulting in rising seas, coastal flooding and increasingly powerful stormsurges.” 

A video produced by the aquarium shows how water levels are rising. It also shows how low-lyingplaces that flood historically are the areas most vulnerable to the sea level change. Dan Cayanstudies weather conditions for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University ofCalifornia, San Diego. He says sea levels are rising at a higher rate now than a few years ago.

“In the last couple of decades it’s risen at a greater rate. And, we think very confidently that it willaccelerate in the next several decades.”

Scientists estimate that, by the end of the century, sea levels around the world could rise by morethan a meter and could continue to rise. Mr. Cayan says heat-trapping greenhouse gasses arecausing temperatures to rise.

”Sea level rise will not end in 2100. It’s an ongoing⁴ problem, as the planet adjusts to a new,essentially a new energy balance because of greenhouse gases.”

He adds that this pollution is warming the planet, and causing ice at the North and South Poles tomelt.

“And as the climate warms, the potential for unleashing⁵ stored water on Earth, largely inGreenland, Antarctica, holds a lot of potential sea level rise in the future."

Frances Anderton serves as guest curator of the Sink or Swim exhibit. She says the show exploreshow people are affected⁶ by flooding and how they are adapting to the rising water levels.

“We have the issue of the rising seas but that is coupled with our desire to live on coast lines.There is an intense level of development on coastlines.”

One picture in the exhibit shows students attending a floating school on a wooden boat. JonasBendiksen took the picture in Bangladesh. A photo from the Netherlands, taken by Iwan Baan,shows a more high-tech⁷ floating building: a modern houseboat made of aluminum⁸ and glass. 

Scientists say city planners in coastal communities must continue to come up with new ways toadapt to rising seas. They say this can be done through futuristic buildings, roads and otherinfrastructure. They say all these structures need to withstand damaging fierce storms and limithuman suffering.

Words in This Story

impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect

adapt – v. to change behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation

vulnerable – adj. open to attack, harm or damage

futuristic – adj. very modern, design that looks like something from the future

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 aquarium   

n.水族馆，养鱼池，玻璃缸

参考例句：

• The first time I saw seals was in an aquarium.我第一次看见海豹是在水族馆里。
• I'm going to the aquarium with my parents this Sunday.这个星期天，我要和父母一起到水族馆去。

3 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 unleashing   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Company logos: making people's life better by unleashing Cummins power. 公司理念：以康明斯动力建设更美好的生活！ 来自互联网
• Sooner or later the dam will burst, unleashing catastrophic destruction. 否则堤坝将崩溃，酿成灾难。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

8 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。