VOA标准英语2009年-Scientists Report Abnormal Sea Level Rises

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
09 November 2009

Scientists say that along the coast of Western Australia sea levels are rising at a rate double that of the world average.
 
Statistics from Australia's National Tidal Center show sea levels have increased by 8.6 millimeters a year off Perth and by 8.1 off the tropical Kimberley region over the past two decades. The global average is a rise of just over three millimeters.

For much of the past century there were average global increases of 1.7 millimeters a year, but that rate doubled between 1993 and 2007. Some regions, notably¹ Western Australia have suffered more than others, partly, scientists say, because of how gravitational pull affects tides.

Scientists at CSIRO, Australia's government-funded scientific research institute, say that climate change has played a role in the increase. Warmer temperatures cause water to expand, a phenomenon called thermal² expansion, and cause glaciers³ and polar ice caps to melt.

Climatologists say that greenhouse gas emissions⁴, such as carbon dioxide from burning oil and coal, contribute significantly to global warming.

John Church is a researcher at CSIRO.
 
"I think the fact that sea levels are rising is a major reason for concern and it's a combination of the global average rise together with the natural variability leading to larger regional rises over certain periods and extreme events as in storm surges which will have the most impact," Church said.
 
About 80 percent of Australians live in coastal⁵ areas. There are fears that some low-lying communities may have to be abandoned in years to come because of flooding and erosion. And with higher sea levels, heavy rains and massive tides known as storm surges, which often accompany tropical storms, can do unexpected damage.
 
There are increasing demands that future development be more sensitive to rising sea levels and the threat of storm surges.
 
Some climate scientists think the Australian continent is particularly susceptible⁶ to a shifting climate and predict a greater incidence of droughts, floods and storms as the Earth warms.
 
Next month, global climate change talks will be held in Copenhagen. Nations hope to reach an agreement o ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the damage from global warming

1 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

2 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

3 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

4 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。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

6 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。