VOA慢速英语2016--朝鲜火山或爆发

AS IT IS 2016-04-19 North Korean Volcano Waiting to Blow 朝鲜火山或爆发

A volcano in North Korea is at risk of erupting, according to scientists.

Scientists say Mount Paektu, on the border of North Korea and China, had one of the largest eruptions² in history. That eruption¹ took place around the year 946.

In 2013, researchers placed seismometers on Mount Paektu. These meters measured seismic³ waves beneath the volcano. Seismic waves are waves in the earth produced by an earthquake.

The volcano had been quiet until 2002. Then earthquakes started until 2005. Now, scientists have discovered soft and melted rock beneath Mount Paektu. They say magma is rising to the surface, and that proves the volcano is active.

The U.S. State Geological Service defines an active volcano as any volcano that has had at least one eruption during the past 10,000 years. 

Mount Paektu is the tallest mountain in North Korea. Its elevation⁴ is close to 2,700 meters.

The information from the study was published in Science Advances journal.

Words in This Story

erupt – v. to send out rocks, ash and lava⁵ in a sudden explosion

seismometer – n. an instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.

seismic waves – n. elastic⁶ waves in the earth produced by an earthquake

magma – n. hot liquid rock below the surface of the Earth

1 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

2 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

3 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

4 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

5 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

6 elastic   

n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的

参考例句：

• Rubber is an elastic material.橡胶是一种弹性材料。
• These regulations are elastic.这些规定是有弹性的。