VOA慢速英语2020 全球大气二氧化碳浓度创新高

Scientists say the world recently set a record for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

科学家们表示，近期全球大气中的二氧化碳含量创下新高。

The record level was reached although industrial activities that produce carbon dioxide have fallen sharply. That is because of efforts to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

尽管产生二氧化碳的工业活动急剧减少，但二氧化碳排放量还是达到了历史最高水平。这是因为人们努力阻止新型冠状病毒的传播。

Carbon dioxide is considered the main human-created greenhouse gas: a heat-trapping gas that warms the Earth's atmosphere.

二氧化碳被认为是人类制造的主要温室气体：这是一种导致地球大气变暖的吸热气体。

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric¹ Administration (NOAA) said carbon levels averaged 417.1 parts per million for the month of May. That is 2.4 parts per million higher than a year ago. The measurements were taken at Mauna Loa, a volcano in Hawaii.

美国国家海洋和大气管理局(NOAA)表示，5月份的平均碳含量为417.1 ppm。这比一年前上升了2.4 ppm。这些观测是在夏威夷的莫纳罗亚火山进行的。

Emissions² of carbon dioxide, from the burning of fossil fuels, dropped by as much 17 percent in April. Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. However, the decrease did not last a long time.

4月份，化石燃料燃烧产生的二氧化碳排放量下降了17%。化石燃料包括煤、石油和天然气。然而，这种下降并没有持续多久。

Pieter Tans is a lead scientist at NOAA. He said carbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. He added that the short-term reductions of carbon gas for a few months did not have much of a long-term effect.

皮特·坦斯(Pieter Tans)是美国国家海洋和大气管理局的首席科学家。他说，二氧化碳可以在大气中停留数百年。他补充说，短期内减少几个月的二氧化碳排放，并不会产生太大的长期影响。

"It illustrates⁴ how difficult it is — what a huge job it is — to bring emissions down," Tans said. "We are really committing the Earth to an enormous amount of warming for a very large time."

坦斯说：“这说明降低排放量有多么困难，这是一项多么艰巨的任务。“在很长一段时间内，我们确实在让地球经历了大幅变暖。”

Records with direct measurements go back to 1958. Scientists say carbon dioxide levels are now nearly 100 parts per million higher than at that time. That is a 31 percent increase in 62 years.

直接测量的记录可以追溯到1958年。科学家表示，现在的二氧化碳含量比当时高出近100ppm。这在62年里增长了31%。

Jonathan Overpeck is head of the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. He told the Associated Press, "The rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is relentless⁵, and this means the costs of climate change to humans and the planet continue to rise relentlessly⁶ as well."

乔纳森·欧佛派克(Jonathan Overpeck)是密歇根大学环境与可持续发展学院的负责人。他对美联社表示，“大气中二氧化碳浓度的上升是无情的，这意味着人类和地球为气候变化付出的代价也在无情地上升。”

Carbon levels in the air were higher long ago before humans, Tans said.

坦斯指出，早在人类出现之前，大气中的碳含量就很高了。

Tans added that carbon dioxide levels reach their highest in May because growing plants begin using more of the gas. That causes carbon amounts in the air to drop.

坦斯补充说，二氧化碳水平在5月份达到最高水平，因为生长的植物开始吸收更多的二氧化碳。这会导致空气中的碳含量下降。

I'm Jonathan Evans.

乔纳森·埃文斯为您播报。

Words in This Story

emissions –n. a substance, such as a gas, that is released or given off

illustrate³ –v. to show, to be an example of

enormous –adj. very large

relentless –adj. continuing without weakening

1 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。

2 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

3 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

4 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

5 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

6 relentlessly   

adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断

参考例句：

• The African sun beat relentlessly down on his aching head. 非洲的太阳无情地照射在他那发痛的头上。
• He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. 他锲而不舍地追求她，拒不接受“不”的回答。