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VOA慢速英语2018 研究显示:海洋面临严重威胁

时间:2018-02-19 23:59来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Several Studies Show Oceans Face Serious Threats

The world’s oceans are sick, and getting sicker every day.

世界海洋环境堪忧,而且日趋恶化。 

Two new studies show the warming of Earth’s atmosphere is removing oxygen from ocean waters and harming coral reefs2.

两项新的研究表明,变暖的地球大气吸走了海水中的氧气,威胁着珊瑚礁。 

Oxygen is necessary for all life in the oceans, except for a few extremely small organisms.And researchers said oxygen levels are low enough to threaten all the ocean life that depends on it.

除了少数极微小的生物外,所有海洋生物都需要氧气。研究人员说,现在海洋的氧气含量很低,足以威胁到所有依赖海洋的生物。

Denise Breitburg is an ocean scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.She is also a member of the Global Ocean Oxygen Network, a team of scientists organized by the United Nations to study the issue.

丹尼斯· 布雷特博格是史密森尼环境研究中心的海洋科学家。她也是全球海洋氧气网络的成员,这是一个联合国组织的研究海洋问题的科学家小组。

Breitburg told the Associated Press, “If you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.That pretty much describes it.”

布雷特博格告诉美联社,“如果呼吸都成问题,那还有什么事重要呢。海洋生物也是如此。” 

The journal Science published the two studies.The first describes how the growing problem of falling oxygen levels is more complex than experts had thought.The second study shows that rising ocean temperatures are greatly increasing coral reef1 bleaching3 events.

《科学》杂志发表了这两项研究。第一项研究发现,氧气含量下降的问题不断恶化,这比专家们想象得还要复杂。第二项研究表明,海洋温度的上升,使得珊瑚礁白化问题更加严重。

Scientists with the Global Ocean Oxygen Network reported that more than 32 million square kilometers of ocean are low in oxygen.These affected4 areas reach a depth of about 200 meters.

全球海洋氧气网络的科学家报告说,超过3200万平方公里的海洋氧气量很低。这一区域的海洋深度达到了200米。

This area is bigger than Africa, the second largest continent.The scientists say the area of low oxygen levels has grown about 16 percent since 1950.

这一面积比第二大的非洲大陆还要大。科学家们说,自1950年以来,低氧含量的地区已经扩大了大约16%。

The Global Ocean Oxygen Network’s report is the widest reaching look at decreasing oxygen levels in the world’s seas so far.Lisa Levin is a professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a co-author of the report.

全球海洋氧气网络的报告是迄今为止全球海洋中低氧气含量研究范围最广的报告。丽莎·莱文是斯克里普斯海洋研究所的教授,也是这份报告的发布者。

In her words, “The low oxygen problem is the biggest unknown climate change consequence out there.”

用她的话来说,“气候变化带来的后果中,低含氧量是人们最不熟悉的。” 

Levin said past research had shown low oxygen areas that were the result of agricultural pollution.She said past studies also showed how warmer waters had created a lack of oxygen.But Levin said this latest study shows how both problems are connected by common causes and possible solutions.

莱文说,过去的研究显示,低含氧量是农业污染的结果。她说,过去的研究也表明,温暖的海水也会造成缺氧。但是莱文说,这项最新研究表明,这两个问题成因相同,也可能有相同的解决办法。

Co-author Denise Breitburg said that some low oxygen levels in the world’s ocean are natural, but not to the extent found.Wind patterns and ocean currents, believed caused by global warming,are preventing oxygen from sinking below the surface of the water.In addition, warmer water does not hold as much oxygen and less oxygen mixes into the water, she said.

合著者丹尼斯· 布雷特博格说,海洋的低氧含量很自然,但是没有达到他们发现的这种程度。风向和洋流是由全球变暖引起的,阻止了氧气沉入水底。她说,另外,温暖的水携带不了多少氧气,进入水里的氧气就会变少。

In the other study, a team of experts looked at 100 coral reefs around the world.They examined how often the reefs experienced severe bleaching events since 1980.

在另一项研究中,一个专家小组研究了世界上100处珊瑚礁。他们研究了自1980年以来珊瑚礁白化现象的频率。

Bleaching happens when water temperature rises just 1 degree Celsius5 above the normal high for an area.Before the 1980s, reefs that experienced bleaching would have 25 to 30 years before another event.The new study finds that bleaching events are now only about six years apart.

当某一地区的水温仅比正常情况下高1摄氏度时,就会发生白化现象。在20世纪80年代之前,珊瑚礁白化会在25到30年后才发生一次。而这项新的研究发现,现在白化现象相隔6年就会出现一次。

Bleaching is not quite killing6 the sensitive corals.But it is breaking down the algae7 that lives inside them.This severely8 sickens the coral.

白化并不会完全消灭脆弱的珊瑚。但它会分解存在于它们体内的藻类。白化会严重损害珊瑚的健康。

Co-author Mark Eakin runs the Coral Reef Watch program for the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric9 Administration.He said coral reefs near Guam are some of the hardest hit.He said there have eight severe bleaching incidents there since 1994.Four of the incidents were in the last five years.

合著者马克·埃金负责美国国家海洋和大气管理局的珊瑚礁监控项目。他说,关岛附近的珊瑚礁是受白化现象影响最严重的地区之一。他说,自1994年以来,关岛出现了八次严重的白化象。其中四次就出现在过去5年中。

Eakin said that it takes time to recover from bleaching.But, he said, now bleachings are happening too often for coral to recover.

埃金说从白化中恢复需要时间。但是,他说,现在珊瑚的白化现象出现过于频繁,珊瑚来不及恢复。

Only six of the 100 coral reefs had not experienced severe bleaching.Four are around Australia, one is in the Indian Ocean and another is off South Africa’s coast.

在100处珊瑚礁中,只有六处没有出现过严重的白化现象。四处位于澳大利亚,一处位于印度洋,另一处位于南非海岸。

But bleaching is not the only issue coral reefs face.Trash is also a danger.Another team of researchers recently reported about tons of plastic waste trapped in coral reefs from Thailand to Australia.The plastic is severely sickening the reefs, they said.

但珊瑚礁面临的不仅仅是白化问题。垃圾也是一种危险。另一个研究小组最近报告了从泰国到澳大利亚的珊瑚礁中残留的大量塑料垃圾。他们说,这种塑料严重威胁着珊瑚礁。

That study was also published in the journal Science.It found that a total of 11.1 billion pieces of plastic are stuck in reefs in the Asia-Pacific region.The waste includes plastic bags and fishing equipment.

这项研究也发表在《科学》杂志上。研究发现,在亚太地区的珊瑚礁中,总共有111亿片塑料残留在珊瑚礁上。这些垃圾有塑料袋和渔具。

The scientists predicted the amount of plastic would rise 40 percent by 2025.

科学家们预测到2025年塑料的数量将增加40%。 

Plastic increases the likelihood10 of coral disease by about 20 times.It can damage the structure, weakening a coral reef’s defenses.Plastic can also transport other organisms that harm coral.

塑料使珊瑚患病的可能性增加约20倍。它会破坏珊瑚礁的结构,削弱它的抵御能力。塑料还会携带其他危害珊瑚的生物。

The study’s authors urged stronger restrictions11 on plastic waste.They also said better management of the fishing industry is necessary to protect coral.

该研究的作者敦促人们对塑料垃圾采取更严格的限制。他们还说,为了保护珊瑚,有必要加强渔业管理。

Words in This Story

coral reef(s) – n. a long line of hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons12 of small creatures that lies in warm, shallow water

journal – n. a magazine that reports on things of special interest to a particular group of people

bleaching – n. the removal color from something especially through the effect of sunlight or by using chemicals

author – n. a person who has written something

consequence – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

(to the) extent – n. used to describe the effect or importance of something in relation to something else

pattern(s) – n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

quite – adj. completely or entirely13

sensitive – adj. easily affected by something in a way that is not pleasant or good

algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems14 and that grow in or near water

trash – n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown away

ton(s) – n. a large amount

region – n. a part of a country or of the world that is different or separate from other parts in some way

management – n. the act or process of controlling and dealing with something


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 reef mUhxH     
n.礁,礁石,暗礁
参考例句:
  • The ship and its crew were lost on the reef.那条船及船员都触礁遇难了。
  • The ship was wrecked on a coral reef.这条船在珊瑚暗礁上撞毁了。
2 reefs 0b9ff9fe6897bd050ab9e7711960aeb0     
礁体
参考例句:
  • The motorboat cut across swift currents and skirted dangerous reefs. 汽艇穿过激流,绕过险滩。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Fish are abundant about the reefs. 暗礁附近鱼很多。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 bleaching c8f59fe090b4d03ec300145821501bd3     
漂白法,漂白
参考例句:
  • Moderately weathered rock showed more intense bleaching and fissuring in the feldspars. 中等风化岩石则是指长石有更为强烈的变白现象和裂纹现象。
  • Bleaching effects are very strong and show on air photos. 退色效应非常强烈,并且反映在航空象片上。
4 affected TzUzg0     
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。
5 Celsius AXRzl     
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。
6 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
7 algae tK6yW     
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。
8 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
9 atmospheric 6eayR     
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。
10 likelihood 91MxW     
n.可能,可能性
参考例句:
  • We must try our best to reduce the likelihood of war.我们必须尽最大努力减少战争的可能性。
  • I don't think there is any likelihood of his agreeing to it.我认为不会有他同意那件事情的可能。
11 restrictions 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则)
参考例句:
  • I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
  • a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
12 skeletons 138f64f4bf514101e6f6e68f9b00bcd9     
n.(建筑物等的)骨架( skeleton的名词复数 );骨骼;梗概;骨瘦如柴的人(或动物)
参考例句:
  • Only skeletons of buildings remained. 只剩下了建筑物的框架。 来自辞典例句
  • It looks like six skeletons in front of that stone door! 在这石头门前看上去就象有六副骨骼! 来自辞典例句
13 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
14 stems 01af57e4ae6d799566f5695b3679756b     
n.(花草的)茎( stem的名词复数 );词干;(高脚酒杯的)脚;烟斗柄v.遏制[阻止](液体的流动等)( stem的第三人称单数 );封堵;遏止
参考例句:
  • The present wave of strikes stems from discontent among the lower-paid. 当前的罢工浪潮起因于低工资雇员们的不满情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Her interest in flowers stems from her childhood in the country. 她对花卉的兴趣产生于她在乡下度过的童年时代。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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