2007年VOA标准英语-Massive International Polar Research Effort Beg

By Paul Sisco
Washington
28 February 2007
 
watch International Polar Year

Thursday, March 1st, is the official start of the International Polar Year. The international research and educational effort officially runs till March 2008.  At least 50,000 scientists from more than 60 countries are involved. Paul Sisco explains why.

The Polar ice caps are among the most forbidding and inhospitable places on Earth, with their frigid¹ temperatures, violent storms and prolonged winds. But to many of the scientists who work there, they are beautiful and fascinating.

 
Paul Ponganis
“This is one of my favorite places to be,” says Paul Ponganis, just one of the many scientists taking part in the coordinated² research effort launched this week.  He studies empire penguins³ at the South Pole.

"These animals can survive under conditions where their body oxygen levels are very low, levels which could cause trauma⁴ to our tissues so their adaptations could be very relevant to basic understanding of some physiological⁵ processes in medicine," he said.

International Polar Year, or IPY, is one of the largest collaborative science programs ever attempted. It is sponsored by the United Nations and the International Council of Scientists, and it aims to help us understand and address problems brought on by climate change.

Polar scientist Robin⁶ Bell told a news conference, "These are places we can't go alone, and IPY offers us a unique opportunity through collaboration⁷ with the international science community.

"This set of problems are the one we can not address as single nations,” she continued. “Our understanding of the pole regions will be advanced.  We'll end up with a polar observation system in the Arctic and the Antarctic.  We are certain to encounter new discoveries and advances in our understanding, but just as important will be what we have heard time and again, the outcome will be a new generation of scientists and engineers who will be motivated to understand our planet and address the pressing issues of change. This IPY is an opportunity of a lifetime," said the senior researcher.

Professor Donal Manahan has been working in Antarctica for more than 20 years.

"Polar science really matters to you -- and by you I mean the general public. The cold biosphere⁸ dominates planet Earth, not just the poles, but even the deep ocean.  Most of planet Earth is cold,” said the University of Southern California researcher. “And I think one of our challenges in IPY is to make the public aware of the importance of the poles. It's not just some little thing at the top and the bottom of the Earth that matters to a few scientists, it matters to everybody."

And that is what this concentrated, coordinated, year of international research at the North and South Pole is all about.

1 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

2 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

5 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

6 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

7 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

8 biosphere   

n.生命层，生物圈

参考例句：

• The entire biosphere was becoming more transparent.整个生物圈越来越透明。
• The impact of modern technology on the biosphere is evident worldwide.现代技术对生物圈的影响在全世界是明显的。