2007年VOA标准英语-New Funds Earmarked for Ocean Study

By Paul Sisco
Washington
05 September 2007
 
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is entering an exciting new era of ocean research. A massive grant from the National Science Foundation is expected to change the way ocean science is done, and greatly improve our understanding of ocean processes. VOA's Paul Sisco has more.

Woods Hole is popularly known for its underwater exploration, its discovery of new marine¹ life forms and the mapping of vast stretches of the ocean floor. 

Underwater research helps us better understand the planet

And now its has nearly 100 million new dollars to work with -- a grant from the National Academy of Science.

Woods Hole Director James Luyten says, "This is transformative for the science, and it's bringing new technology into the field, and it will literally² transform the way ocean science is done."

Woods Hole is America's premier³ center for ocean studies. The new grant funds underwater vessels⁴, monitors and buoys⁵ that will beam data via satellite directly to scientists around the world. "It will measure ocean currents temperature, salinity⁶, nutrients⁷, actually be able to count fish," Luyten adds. 

It is just one part of a massive, long-term research project turning sections of the ocean floor in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans into observation platforms.

Holly⁸ Givens is with the consortium that is administering the grant. "Traditionally, oceanographers have gone, with great expense, to sea, and only been able to do experiments over a very limited amount of time. Instead we will have permanent data coming in."

James Luyten

"Where this is going in the long-term,” Luyten says, “is to develop a long-term ocean observatory⁹ which can improve weather prediction, which can improve fisheries management."

Once fully¹⁰ established the network will allow scientists -- and anyone else who is interested -- to study ocean phenomenon continuously from any Internet connection in the world.

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 buoys   

n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• The channel is marked by buoys. 航道有浮标表示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Often they mark the path with buoys. 他们常常用浮标作为航道的标志。 来自辞典例句

6 salinity   

n.盐分；咸度；盐浓度；咸性

参考例句：

• In the sea water sampled the salinity is two parts per thousand.在取样的海水中，盐度为千分之二。
• In many sedimentary basins the salinity of the formation water increases with depth or compaction.在许多沉积盆地中，地层水的含盐量随深度或压实作用而增高。

7 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 holly   

n.[植]冬青属灌木

参考例句：

• I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.最近我从一棵冬青树上弄了些木料。
• People often decorate their houses with holly at Christmas.人们总是在圣诞节时用冬青来装饰房屋。

9 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。