VOA科学技术2023 研究称全球半数湖泊面积萎缩

Study: About Half of World’s Lakes Are Shrinking

研究称全球半数湖泊面积萎缩

A new study has found that more than half of the world's lakes have shrunk since the 1990s.

一项新的研究发现，自20世纪90年代以来，世界上有一半以上湖泊面积萎缩。

The study blames the shrinkage on the effects of climate change. The researchers said the finding intensifies¹ concerns about world water supplies for drinking, agriculture and hydropower.

这项研究将萎缩归咎于气候变化的影响。研究人员表示，这一发现加剧了人们对全球饮用水、农业和水电供应的担忧。

An international team of scientists recently reported their results in the publication Science.

一个国际科学家团队最近在《科学》杂志上发表了他们的研究结果。

The team reported some of the world's most important freshwater suppliers lost water at an estimated rate of 22 gigatons per year for nearly 30 years. This included the Caspian Sea between Europe and Asia and South America's Lake Titicaca in the Andes mountains.

该团队报告称，全球一些最重要的淡水资源在近30年内以每年220亿吨的估算速度流失水分。这其中包括欧亚之间的里海，以及南美安第斯山脉中的喀喀湖。

Fangfang Yao is a water researcher at the University of Virginia who led the study. She told Reuters news agency the study found that climate warming and human water usage drove 56 percent of drops in natural lakes.

弗吉尼亚大学的水资源研究员姚芳芳领导了这项研究。她对路透社表示，这项研究发现，气候变暖和人类用水导致天然湖泊56%的水量下降。

Some climate scientists believe the world's driest areas will become drier while wet areas are expected to get wetter. But the study said major water loss took place even in humid parts of the world.

一些气候科学家认为，全球最干旱地区将会变得更加干燥，而潮湿地区预计会更加潮湿。但是该研究称，即使在世界上潮湿的地区，也发生了严重的水分流失。

Scientists examined nearly 2,000 large lakes using satellite measurements combined with computer models for climate and water.

科学家们利用卫星测量，并结合气候和水文的计算机模型，评估了近2000个大型湖泊。

The team found the main reasons for lake drying around the world included unsustainable human use, changes in rainfall and run-off, sedimentation² and rising temperatures. Those elements led to drops in lake levels of 53 percent of lakes worldwide from 1992 to 2020.

该团队发现，世界各地湖泊水位下降的主要原因是人类不可持续的使用、降雨和径流的变化、沉降和升温。从1992年到2020年，这些因素导致全球53%的湖泊水位下降。

The study said that nearly 2 billion people living in drying lake areas have been directly affected³ by the shortages – many of which came in recent years.

该研究称，生活在湖泊水位下降地区的近20亿人直接受到缺水的影响，其中许多地区是近年来出现的。

Some scientists and environmental activists⁴ have urged steps to prevent the world's average temperature from increasing by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius⁵.

一些科学家和环保活动家敦促采取措施，防止世界平均气温上升超过1.5摄氏度。

The study found that unsustainable human use dried up several lakes, including the Aral Sea in Central Asia and the Dead Sea in the Middle East. On the other hand, rising temperatures caused lake drying in Afghanistan, Egypt and Mongolia.

该研究发现，人类不可持续的使用导致几个湖泊逐渐萎缩，包括中亚的咸海和中东的死海。另一方面，气温上升导致阿富汗、埃及和蒙古的湖泊趋于干涸。

The researchers noted⁶ that water levels rose in a quarter of the lakes studied. This often resulted from dam building projects in rural areas such as the Inner Tibetan Plateau, the study found.

 

研究人员指出，有1/4被研究的湖泊水位上升。研究发现，这通常是由青藏高原等农村地区的大坝建设项目造成的。

1 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 sedimentation   

n.沉淀，沉积

参考例句：

• Sedimentation, the damage of a breach are problems, too. 而且沉积和决口的问题，也是存在的。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）
• Sedimentation and denudation play a role in exceptional cases. 沉积和剥蚀作用的影响只在特殊情况下起作用。

3 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。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 Celsius   

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 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。