【英语时差8,16】龙卷风的预测

 Yaël: What are you doing with that shovel¹, Don? Don: I'm digging a hole for a tornado² shelter to get ready for next winter, Yaël. Y: A tornado shelter for winter? D: Yep. We're going to have lots of tornadoes³ in the midwest this year. Y: How could you know that? D: Because the sea surface temperature in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is cooler. Y: Now you are sounding crazy, Don. D: Not as crazy as you might think. Tropical Pacific water temperatures fluctuate in two-to seven-year cycles, and those temperature events can last five months or longer. For years we've known that during El Niño events, when the Pacific waters are warmer, the weather is generally wetter in North and South America and Africa, and can cause massive floods. At the same time, it's drier in Asia and Australia, causing droughts. During La Niña events, when the Pacific is cooler, it's just the opposite. Y: So, what does this have to do with winter tornadoes? D: Since tornadoes are so destructive, meteorologists at the NOAA Storm Prediction Center are always looking for new ways to predict where and when they will occur. They have discovered that during El Niño years, more winter tornadoes occur in Florida and the Gulf⁴ states. During La Niña years, there are more tornadoes in Texas and the upper Midwest. Y: So, knowing what's happening in the Pacific gives meteorologists advance warning. D: Exactly right. Isn't it amazing? Y: Almost as amazing as your building a tornado shelter when you already have a basement for protection. D: Hm. I guess I hadn't thought of that.

1 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

2 tornado   

n.飓风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

3 tornadoes   

n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Tornadoes, severe earthquakes, and plagues create wide spread havoc. 龙卷风、大地震和瘟疫成普遍的毁坏。 来自互联网
• Meteorologists are at odds over the working of tornadoes. 气象学者对龙卷风的运动方式看法不一。 来自互联网

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。