VOA标准英语2008年-Researchers: Antarctic Ice Loss Is Accelerating

By VOA News
15 January 2008
 

A group of climate researchers says there is evidence that global warming is causing the Antarctic ice cap to melt more quickly than it did 10 years ago.

The scientists said Monday they used satellite data to monitor the Antarctic coastline. They found the ice sheet on the Earth's southern pole lost 59 percent more ice in 2006 than it did in 1996.

The researchers say western antarctica lost 132 billion tons of ice in 2006, enough to raise worldwide sea levels by 0.5 millimeter.

The team's leader, Eric Rignot of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said warmer temperatures appear to be accelerating the movement of coastal¹ Antarctic glaciers² into the sea.

The researchers say their findings may cause scientists to revise their predictions about rising sea levels around the world.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

1 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。

2 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）