纪录片《全球怪象》 第20期：北极圈的线索

The British weather is so complicated, and has so many variables

英国气候十分复杂 且有许多变量

that scientists believe

因此科学家认为

that really understanding what was going on

想要彻底了解其原因

was well nigh impossible.

几乎不可能

But that didn't deter¹ the weather experts at the Met Office.

但这并不能阻止英国气象局的专家们

The view in my research group

我的研究小组认为

is that we shouldn't give up on this

我们不应放弃

because there are these key pieces of this puzzle,

因为某些关键因素

very intriguing² connections, that may be predictable.

以及某些微妙联系 或许可以预测

It's our job to squeeze as much predictability

我们的工作就是尽可能

out of the climate system as we can,

对气候系统进行预测

so that we can advise people

以此告诫民众

about the possibility of impending³ extremes.

可能出现的极端天气

There are a number of clues to unravel⁴ in this mystery.

许多线索有助于解开这一谜题

They lie buried away in the Arctic,

这些线索隐藏在北极圈中

in the long history of the Sun,

在太阳的亘古历史中

and, possibly, the contents of this case.

或许 还在这个箱子中

1 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

2 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

4 unravel   

v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开

参考例句：

• He was good with his hands and could unravel a knot or untangle yarn that others wouldn't even attempt.他的手很灵巧，其他人甚至都不敢尝试的一些难解的绳结或缠在一起的纱线，他都能解开。
• This is the attitude that led him to unravel a mystery that long puzzled Chinese historians.正是这种态度使他解决了长期以来使中国历史学家们大惑不解的谜。