恶劣天气在全球产生影响

Extreme Weather Having Effects Worldwide

恶劣天气在全球产生影响

 

We expect uncomfortably hot temperatures in midsummer, even violent weather in certain areas. But this year, North America has been hit by some unusually wild, record-setting storms.

 

Matthew Lopez is Chief of Emergency Management in Escambia County, Florida.

 

Matthew Lopez: This is the most active tropical storm season and hurricane season we've seen in the history of North America.

 

This is Florida resident Shannon Bartell.

 

Shannon Bartell: So it's been scary today. I've never been this scared in my whole life.

 

Recently, Hurricane Dennis roared through the U.S. southern state of Florida, with 193-kilometer winds. Tropical Storm Emily is expected to hit U.S. shores in the next few days. Emily is a record-setting fifth named-storm this season.

 

Some hurricanes affecting North America's East Coast typically originate in the Atlantic Ocean near the African coast. Strong winds from Africa mixing with the warm ocean air can destabilize the air sufficiently¹ to cause thunderstorms, and later, hurricanes.

 

Hurricanes and floods aren't the only weather concerns. Drought conditions are also prevalent in some parts of the world, causing some, like Illinois farmer Mark Yonkers, to worry.

 

Mark Yonkers: Normally, the leaves will all be opened up, and a lot fuller looking than what it is.

 

The U.S. corn crop is in its key pollination² stage, and needs rain. But Illinois, the second largest corn-producing U.S. state, is experiencing its worst drought in 20 years.

 

France, too, is in the midst of a drought, leading authorities to call for water restrictions³.

 

Deputy Director of French weather forecast center Meteo-France Alain Ratier:

 

Alain Ratier: The main part which is severely⁴ affected⁵ is the western part of France, the southwestern part in fact where we have a lot of difficulties with agriculture...

 

Severe weather has hit Europe hard this summer. Fires from hot, dry weather in some regions, and heavy floods in others have killed dozens.

 

Extreme weather also hurts the global economy. Hurricane Dennis caused significant damage to an oil platform on the Gulf⁶ Coast, and extended periods of drought will cause produce prices to rise.

 

But the main concern is the immediate⁷ damage, injury and even death severe weather can bring, driving some to despair:

 

One hurricane victim: I think we're cursed. I think someone doesn't want us to live here.

 

Ernest Leong, VOA news.

 

注释：

record-setting 创记录的

hurricane [5hQrikEn] n. 飓风，狂风

originate [E5ridVineit] vi. 起源，发生

destabilize [di:5steibilaiz] vt. 使动摇

drought [draut] n. 干旱

prevalent [5prevElEnt] adj. 普遍的

curse [kE:s] v. 诅咒

1 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

2 pollination   

n.授粉

参考例句：

• The flowers get pollination by insects.这些花通过昆虫授粉。
• Without sufficient pollination,the growth of the corn is stunted.没有得到充足的授粉，谷物的长势就会受阻。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 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。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。