VOA时事新闻2023 全球逾半数湖泊近30年间大幅缩水

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，世界上超过一半的湖泊已经萎缩。

The study blames the shrinkage on the effects of climate change.

该研究将湖泊面积萎缩归咎于气候变化的影响。

The researchers said the finding intensifies¹ concerns about world water supplies for drinking, agriculture and hydropower.

研究人员表示，这一发现加剧了人们对全球饮用水、农业和水力发电用水供应的担忧。

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》杂志上报告了他们的研究结果。

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.

该研究小组报告称，在近30年的时间里，世界上一些最重要的淡水供应地的水以每年220亿吨的速度流失。

This included the Caspian Sea between Europe and Asia and South America's Lake Titicaca in the Andes mountains.

其中包括位于欧洲和亚洲之间的里海和南美洲安第斯山脉的的喀喀湖。

Fangfang Yao is a water researcher at the University of Virginia who led the study.

领导这项研究的是弗吉尼亚大学的水资源研究员姚芳芳。

She told Reuters news agency the study found that climate warming and human water usage drove 56 percent of drops in natural lakes.

她告诉路透社，这项研究发现，气候变暖和人类用水导致天然湖泊水量下降了56%。

Some climate scientists believe the world's driest areas will become drier while wet areas are expected to get wetter.

一些气候科学家认为，世界上最干旱的地区将会变得更加干旱，而潮湿的地区预计会变得更加潮湿。

But the study said major water loss took place even in humid parts of the world.

但该研究发现，即使在世界上的潮湿地区也出现了水流失的现象。

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

科学家利用卫星测量与气候和水文的计算机模型对近2000个大型湖泊进行了调查。

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.

研究小组发现，世界各地湖泊干涸的主要原因包括不可持续的人类利用、降雨和地表径流的变化、沉积和气温上升。

Those elements led to drops in lake levels of 53 percent of lakes worldwide from 1992 to 2020.

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，居住在干旱湖区的近20亿人直接受到水资源短缺的影响——其中多地近年来面临缺水问题。

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人士敦促采取措施，防止全球平均气温上升超过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.

研究发现，不可持续的人类利用导致一些湖泊干涸，包括中亚的咸海和中东的死海。

On the other hand, rising temperatures caused lake drying in Afghanistan, Egypt and Mongolia.

另一方面，气温上升导致阿富汗、埃及和蒙古的湖泊干涸。

The researchers noted⁶ that water levels rose in a quarter of the lakes studied.

研究人员指出，在所研究的湖泊中，有四分之一的湖泊水位上升。

This often resulted from dam building projects in rural areas such as the Inner Tibetan Plateau, the study found.

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。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布莱恩·林恩为您播报。

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。