About Climate Change?
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction: What Is Climate Change?
导言表:气候变化是什么?
4 Evidence for Climate Change.
4 气候变化的证据。
5 What Is Causing Climate Change?
5 什么是造成气候变化?
9 Possible Results of Climate Change.
9 气候变化的可能结果。
15 What Is Being Done About Climate Change?
15 正在处理的气候变化问题是什么?
19 Conclusion: What Do You Think?
19 结论: 你觉得呢?
22 Glossary.
22 词汇表。
23 Introduction: What Is Climate Change?
23 导言:什么是气候变化?
What is the weather like today?
今天天气怎么样?
Is it warm or cold?
是热还是冷?
Sunny or rainy?
阳光还是雨?
It’s easy to see what the weather is like on any given day, but what about the climate?
但气候如何?
Over long periods, there are certain patterns to the weather.
长期以来,天气有一定的规律.
These long-term patterns are called climate, and sometimes these patterns change.
这些长期模式被称为气候,有时这些模式会发生变化.
For example, it was colder in Europe from 1400 to 1800 than it was from 1100 to 1300.
例如从1400年到1800年在欧洲比从1100年到1300年更冷.
That was because the pattern of weather—the climate— changed between these two periods.
这是因为天气——气候——的模式在这两个时期之间发生了变化。
Many scientists believe that the climate is changing again, back to a warmer pattern.
许多科学家认为气候又在变化,回到了更温暖的格局.
They call this change global warming.
他们称之为全球暖化
Although some people are concerned that global warming could harm plant and animal communities and human societies, other people believe that there is little to worry about.
虽然有些人担心全球变暖会损害动植物社区和人类社会,但其他人认为没有什么可担心的.
This book tells what scientists have discovered about climate change.
这本书讲述了科学家们在气候变化方面发现了什么.
Read it carefully and then ask yourself, “What do I think about climate change?”
仔细阅读,然后问自己:“我对气候变化有什么看法? “
Scientists have also compared records of this recent temperature increase with other evidence of what Earth’s climate was like thousands of years ago.
科学家们也比较了最近气温升高的记录 和数千年前地球气候状况的其他证据。
This comparison led a group of U.
这一比较导致了一组U.
S.
师曰.
past 12,000 years.
过去12000年。
Old photographs provide additional evidence that Earth’s surface is warming.
旧相片为地球表面变暖提供了更多证据.
For example, photos of certain mountain glaciers taken in the early to mid-1900s show that the glaciers were larger years ago than they are today.
例如,从19世纪初到中叶拍摄的某些山地冰川的照片表明,冰川在多年前比今天大.
Scientists have found that some of these mountain glaciers are melting and shrinking at faster and faster rates.
科学家发现,有的这些山地冰川正在以更快的速度融化并收缩.
Researchers have observed such glaciers in Alaska, South America, Europe, and Asia.
研究人员在阿拉斯加,南美洲,欧洲和亚洲观测到这种冰川.
Many scientists believe that this shrinking is being caused by an increase in global surface temperatures.
许多科学家认为,这种收缩是由全球地表温度升高所造成.
Melting glaciers helped cause the shattering of the 400-year-old Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica.
冰川融化导致南极洲有400年历史的Larsen B冰架被粉碎。
Evidence for Climate Change When scientists have an idea, such as the idea that global warming is happening, they need to present evidence to support that idea.
气候变化的证据 当科学家有一个想法,比如全球变暖正在发生的想法, 他们需要提出证据来支持这个想法。
What evidence have scientists discovered about global warming?
科学家发现了哪些关于全球变暖的证据?
Meteorologists (scientists who study the weather) have kept careful records of Earth’s surface temperatures since the mid-1800s.
气象学家(研究天气的科学家)自1800年代中期起就仔细记录地表温度.
Surface temperatures include the temperature of the air near the ground, such as what you see on an outdoor thermometer.
地表温度包括地上附近的空气温度,比如在室外温度计上看到的温度.
Surface temperatures also include temperatures of the ocean surface.
地表温度还包括地表温度.
These records show that the average surface temperature around the world has increased by roughly 1.
这些记录显示,全球地表平均气温大约增加了1.
0°F to 1.
0°F至1.
8°F (0.
8华氏度（0。
6°C to 1.
6°C到1.
0°C) since the late 1800s.
0°C)自1800年代后期起.
Near the South Pole, satellite photos show that both sea ice and ice sheets (ice covering land) in western Antarctica are melting.
在南极附近,卫星照片显示,南极西部的海冰和冰盖(冰覆盖陆地)都在融化.
In 2002, photos showed an ice shelf larger in area than Rhode Island breaking into small pieces and drifting away from Antarctica.
2002年,照片显示,冰架面积比罗德岛大,裂成小块并漂出南极洲。
An ice shelf is part of an ice sheet that extends into the sea.
冰架是延伸入海的冰盖的一部分.
When ice on land, such as on Antarctica and Greenland, melts, the meltwater flows into the ocean.
当陆地上如南极和格陵兰等地的冰融化后,融水会流入海洋.
Over time, this extra water could cause sea levels to rise.
随着时间的推移,这种额外的水可能会使海平面上升.
Researchers with the United Nations have reported that the average sea level around the world has risen by at least 4 inches (10 cm) since the early 1900s.
联合国的研究人员报告说,自1900年代初起,全世界平均海平面已经上升了至少4英寸(10厘米)。
Searching for More Evidence More evidence for global warming exists than is described in this chapter.
寻找更多证据 全球变暖的证据比本章所述的要多。
Other evidence pointed to by scientists includes: • changes in migration habits of certain birds • an unhealthy condition of coral reefs called “bleaching” • possible increases in extreme weather, such as hurricanes You can find out more about this evidence by using the Internet.
科学家指出的其他证据包括: • 某些鸟类的迁徙习惯发生变化; • 珊瑚礁的不健康状况被称作是 " 有裂痕 " ; • 极端天气可能增加,例如飓风 你可以通过互联网了解更多的证据。
However, you need to be careful about which websites you use.
然而,您需要注意您使用的哪些网站。
Many websites about global warming contain incorrect information.
许多关于全球变暖的网站包含不正确的信息.
Websites run by government agencies, universities, or scientific organizations are usually the best.
由政府机构、大学或科学组织管理的网站通常是最好的。
When you read about any evidence, remember to ask yourself, “Does this make sense to me?”
当你读到任何证据时,请记住要问自己:“这对我合理吗? “
Evidence indicates that ice around the North and South Poles is also melting.
有证据表明,北极和南极周围的冰也正在融化.
Much of this evidence comes from photographs of the polar regions taken by cameras aboard satellites.
这些证据大多取自卫星上摄相机拍摄的极地相片.
Satellite photos have shown that the amount of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean around the North Pole has decreased since the 1970s.
卫星相片显示自20世纪70年代以来,北极周围北冰洋的海冰量已经减少.
Measurements revealed that, between 2004 and 2005, an area of sea ice the size of Texas disappeared from the Arctic.
测量显示,2004至2005年间,德克萨斯州大小的海冰区域从北极消失.
Because of the melting Arctic ocean ice, the survival of polar bears may be at risk.
由于北极海洋冰层融化,北极熊的生存可能面临风险.
Polar bears use ice floes (floating ice) in winter as platforms to hunt seals.
极地熊在冬季会用浮冰(浮冰)作为捕食海豹的平台.
Scientists reported in 2005 that there are not as many ice floes in the Arctic sea as there used to be.
科学家于2005年报告说,北极海域的浮冰数量没有以前那么多.
As a result, many polar bears are not getting enough to eat, and some may be drowning.
因此许多北极熊食用不足,有的还可能被淹死.
What Is Causing Climate Change?
造成气候变化的原因是什么?
There are many ideas as to what may be causing global warming and climate change.
关于什么可能造成全球变暖和气候变化,有许多想法。
These ideas can be divided into two main categories: human activities and natural causes.
这些想法可以分为两大类:人类活动和自然原因.
The main human activity blamed for global warming is the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) in automobiles, factories, and electric power plants.
造成全球变暖的主要人类活动是汽车、工厂和发电厂燃烧化石燃料(煤、石油、天然气)。
When these substances are burned for fuel or energy, carbon dioxide gas and other gases are released into the atmosphere (air).
当为燃料或能源而燃烧这些物质时,二氧化碳气体和其他气体会释放入大气(空气).
These gases build up in the atmosphere over time.
这些气体在大气中逐渐积累.
The gases let much of the energy of sunlight pass through the air to warm Earth’s surface.
气体让阳光的能量从空气中流出,
Earth’s surface then radiates (sends out) heat energy back into the air.
然后将地表的热能放回空气中。
Much of the radiated heat energy drifts off into space.
大部分散热能都漂入太空
However, some of the heat energy is trapped near Earth’s surface by carbon dioxide and certain other gases in the atmosphere.
然而,一些热能被二氧化碳和大气中某些其他气体所困在地表附近.
The trapped heat energy is then re-radiated back to the surface, warming the surface more.
被困的热能再被再辐射回地表,使地表更暖和.
Because this process acts like a greenhouse (a building in which special glass walls trap heat to warm plants inside), it is called the greenhouse effect.
因为这个过程就像一个温室(一个特别的玻璃墙将热能夹住里面的温暖植物的建筑物),所以被称为温室效应.
Carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that trap heat are called greenhouse gases.
二氧化碳,甲烷等会诱发热量的气体被称作温室气体.
The greenhouse effect is a natural part of how Earth functions.
温室效应是地球功能的自然部分.
If Earth did not have a natural greenhouse effect, it would be as cold as Mars— too cold for liquid water or life.
如果地球没有天然的温室效应,它会和火星一样冷-对液态水或生命来说太冷了.
However, many scientists believe that the carbon dioxide released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the warming of the greenhouse effect.
然而,许多科学家认为由燃烧化石燃料而释放到空气中的二氧化碳正在使温室效应变暖.
What is the evidence that carbon dioxide from fossil fuels is related to global warming?
哪些证据表明化石燃料产生的二氧化碳与全球变暖有关?
Humans began burning fossil fuels in large amounts when industrialization (the use of power-driven machinery) became widespread in the mid-1800s.
在18世纪中叶工业化(使用由动力驱动的机械)普及后,人类开始大量燃烧化石燃料.
Since then, measurements suggest that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by about 25 percent.
从那时起,测量表明大气中的二氧化碳含量增加了约25%.
According to meteorologists, Earth’s surface temperature has increased during this same time.
气象学家认为,在同一期间地表温度已经上升.
Another human activity that has increased the carbon dioxide in the air is the burning and cutting down of forests, or deforestation.
造成空气中二氧化碳增加的另一个人类活动是燃烧和砍伐森林,或砍伐森林。
Trees and other plants remove carbon dioxide from the air to carry out photosynthesis, the chemical process by which plants make their own food.
树木等植物从空气中去除二氧化碳以进行光合作用,这是植物自行制作食物的化学过程.
When there are fewer plants to carry out photosynthesis, more carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere.
当植物较少进行光合作用时,更多的二氧化碳会积聚在大气中.
Some scientists point out that global warming does not have to be caused by human activities.
一些科学家指出,全球变暖不一定是人类活动造成的.
Global warming and global cooling happened over and over before people started burning fossil fuels.
在人们开始燃烧化石燃料之前,全球变暖和全球冷却一再发生。
During the past few hundreds of thousands of years, there have been several ice ages, when much of Earth’s surface was covered by ice.
在过去数十万年中,出现了几个冰河时代,当时地表大部分被冰所覆盖。
In between these ice ages have been warm periods.
在这些冰河年代中,是温暖的时期。
The last ice age ended about 11,500 years ago.
上个冰河时代大约在11500年前结束.
According to geologists, we are now in a warm period between two ice ages.
地质学家认为,我们现在处于两个冰河时代之间的温暖时期.
What else do weather records and other scientific evidence show?
天气记录和其他科学证据还显示什么?
In Europe, the climate cooled between the “Medieval Warm Period” (about 1100 to 1300) and the “Little Ice Age” (about 1400 to 1800).
在欧洲,气候从"中世纪温暖时期"(约1100至1300年)到"小冰时代"(约1400至1800年)之间降温.
The climate has been warming since the end of the Little Ice Age.
自"小冰河时代"结束以来,气候一直变暖.
These earlier climate changes had natural causes.
这些较早的气候变化有自然原因。
Perhaps the current global warming has some natural causes, too.
也许目前的全球变暖也有一些自然原因。
COOLER WARMER 11,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 Present Temperature change (°C) Holocene Maximum Medieval Warm Period Little Ice Age Present Warm-up Years before present Ice Age Average 1900 Temp.
COOLER WARMER 11,000 110,000 9000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 3,000 1,000 现温变化 (°C) 中世纪最热时期 小冰时代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升年代 现温上升时期 现温上升年代 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温 现温上升时期 现温 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现温 现温上升时期 现温 现温上升时期 现温上升时期 现 现 现时 现温 现 现温 现温 现 现温
deeper the ice, the farther back in time it was formed.
更深的冰层, 更回溯的时间 它形成。
Certain chemicals, such as large amounts of carbon dioxide, tell researchers that Earth’s climate was relatively warm at the time the ice formed.
某些化学物质,如大量的二氧化碳,告诉研究人员,在冰形成时地球气候相对温暖.
Such methods allow scientists to learn about Earth’s past natural changes in climate.
这些方法使科学家能够了解地球过去在气候方面的自然变化。
Although scientists do not fully understand the natural causes of climate change, they suspect that a number of factors are involved.
虽然科学家不完全了解气候变化的自然原因,但他们怀疑其中涉及一些因素.
For example, the amount of heat energy produced by the Sun varies from time to time.
例如,太阳产生的热能数量不时会有所不同.
Also varying over time are the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun and the angle of the tilt that Earth makes on its axis (the imaginary line about which Earth spins).
环绕太阳的地球轨道的形状以及地球在其轴上所形成的倾斜角(地球所旋转的假想线)也随着时间的推移而变化.
Scientists examine an ice core that shows volcanic activity under a glacier.
科学家检查一个显示冰川下火山活动的冰芯.
If meteorologists have been keeping careful records of Earth’s temperatures since only the mid-1800s, how can we know what earlier temperatures and climates were like?
如果气象学家只从1800年代中期就开始仔细记录地球的温度,那么我们怎么知道更早的温度和气候是什么样子?
One way to know is by studying growth rings in cross-sections of very old trees.
了解的方法之一是在非常古老的树木的交叉上研究生长环.
Trees grow more when climate is wet and warm than when climate is dry and cold.
相较于气候干燥而寒冷,气候湿润而温暖时,树木生长得更多.
Tree rings are thicker when there is greater growth.
树环在增长较大时会更厚.
By analyzing such rings, scientists can discover trends in temperature going back hundreds of years.
通过分析这些环,科学家可以发现几百年前的温度趋势.
To discover even older temperature trends, scientists use various other methods.
为了发现更古老的温度趋势,科学家们使用各种其他方法.
Possible Results of Climate Change Whether global warming is caused by human activities, natural factors, or a combination of both, it may result in certain changes to the planet.
气候变化的可能结果 无论全球变暖是由人类活动,自然因素引起的,还是两者兼而有之,都可能导致地球的某些变化.
How do scientists predict these changes?
科学家如何预测这些变化?
What might these changes be?
这些变化是什么?
What would such changes mean to you?
这些变化对你意味着什么?
One of the main ways that scientists try to predict the future of climate change is by using computer models.
科学家试图预测气候变化未来的主要方法之一是使用计算机模型.
These are computer programs based on mathematical equations about sunlight, heat, rainfall, wind, ocean currents, and other climate factors.
这些都是基于关于阳光,热能,降雨,风能,洋流等气候因素的数学等式的计算机程序.
Scientists change these equations in different ways to mimic the ways that these factors might change in the real world.
科学家以不同的方式改变这些等式,来模仿这些因素在现实世界中可能改变的方式.
The computer program then figures out the most likely effects that these factors would have on Earth’s climate.
然后,计算机程序找出这些因素对地球气候最可能产生的影响。
Computer models are most useful for helping researchers learn several possible results of climate change.
计算机模型对于帮助研究人员了解气候变化的几个可能结果最为有用.
However, predictions made with computer models are not certain.
然而,使用计算机模型所作的预测并不确定。
Maybe these predictions will really happen; maybe they will not happen.
也许这些预测真的会发生;也许它们不会发生。
The following possibilities are based on computer models predicting very serious effects of global warming.
以下可能性基于预测全球变暖非常严重影响的计算机模型.
Other computer models predict far less serious effects.
其他计算机模型预测的影响要小得多.
According to some computer models—if current rates of warming continue—Earth’s average surface temperature may increase by as much as 10°F (5.
根据某些计算机模型——如果目前的变暖速度继续下去——地球平均地表温度可能增加10°F(5)。
5°C) by 2100.
5°C),到2100年通车.
Such a great rise in temperature could cause enormous changes in the natural habitats of many plant and animal species.
气温的如此高涨可能会使许多动植物物种的自然栖息地发生巨大变化.
Wetlands might change into grasslands, and grasslands might change into deserts.
湿地可能变成草地,而草地可能变成沙漠。
Plants and animals that could not adjust to these changes would die out.
无法适应这些变化的植物和动物会死去。
Large increases in Earth’s surface temperature could cause vast amounts of ice on Antarctica and Greenland to melt into the sea.
地表温度的大幅上升可能导致南极和格陵兰的大量冰融入海洋.
This could, in turn, result in rises in sea level of several feet.
这反过来又可能导致几英尺高的海平面上升.
If all the ice on Greenland were to melt, for example, sea levels might increase by more than 20 feet (6 m), according to some computer models.
例如,如果格陵兰岛上的所有冰都融化,根据一些计算机模型,海平面可能会上升20多英尺(6米)。
An Inconvenient Truth In 2007, former U.
2007年的"不方便的真相",前U.
S.
师曰.
Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in warning the public about the possible dangers of global warming.
副总统阿尔·戈尔因其在警告公众可能存在全球变暖危险方面所做的工作而获得诺贝尔和平奖.
Gore also wrote a book and appeared in a movie about global warming, both of which were titled An Inconvenient Truth.
Gore也写了一本书,
The book and movie featured several possible disasters that might be in store for Earth because of global warming.
这本书和电影主要报道了几起可能因全球变暖而为地球带来的灾难。
These disasters included the extinction of many species of animals, deadly floods in many countries, and much more powerful hurricanes.
这些灾害包括许多动物物种被灭绝、许多国家发生致命洪灾以及更强大的飓风。
It is important to keep in mind that these disasters are not definitely going to happen.
必须铭记,这些灾害不会发生。
They are only the worst among many different possibilities.
它们只是许多不同可能性中最糟糕的。
If sea levels were to rise high enough and fast enough, many cities along coasts and on small islands would be flooded by ocean water and destroyed.
如果海平面升高足够快,沿海和小岛屿上的许多城市将被海水淹没并被摧毁。
These cities might include New York City, Boston, and other large U.
这些城市可能包括纽约市,波士顿等大型U.
S.
师曰.
cities with millions of people.
城市有数百万人。
Earth’s surface temperature affects the weather in many complex ways.
地表温度以多种复杂方式影响天气。
Computer models predict that weather in different parts of the world would be affected by continued warming in different ways.
计算机模型预测,世界不同地区的天气会受到以不同方式持续变暖的影响.
In some areas, it could become drier and more difficult to grow crops.
在一些地区,种植作物可能变得更加干燥和困难。
This would lead to water and food shortages.
这将导致水和粮食短缺。
In other areas, the growing season could lengthen because of warmer, wetter weather.
在其他地区,生长季节可能由于天气更温暖更湿润而延长.
Crops in these areas would become easier to grow.
这些地区的作物将更容易种植。
Changing weather caused by global warming might also mean more hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms, or droughts—depending on where a person lives.
全球升温引起的天气变化也可能意味着更多的飓风、龙卷风、暴风雪或干旱,这取决于一个人居住的地方。
Computers help map the pollutants in the air above ma jor urban areas.
计算机帮助绘制了ma jor城区上空空气中的污染物.
Warmer weather could mean more disease.
温暖的天气可能意味着更多的疾病。
Many kinds of viruses, bacteria, and other germs spread more easily when the weather is warm than when it is cool.
许多种类的病毒,细菌等细菌在天气温暖时比凉爽时更容易传播.
Among such diseases are malaria, dengue (a disease that causes fever and pain), and lung infections.
这些疾病包括:疟疾、登革热(引起发烧和疼痛的疾病)和肺感染。
How Global Warming Might Affect You • You might have to conserve electricity, such as by watching less television and using the computer less often.
• 全球暖化如何影响你 你可能必须节省电能,比如看较少的电视和使用较少的计算机。
heat waves, and other dangerous weather.
热浪和其他危险天气
• You might experience water or food shortages.
• 支助 你可能会经历缺水或缺粮。
• You might be at increased risk of getting certain diseases.
• 支助 你可能会有更大的风险 得到某些疾病。
certain birds and butterflies, become less common.
某些鸟类和蝴蝶变得不那么常见。
Brazil’s city of Rio de Janeiro faced a dengue fever epidemic in March 2008.
巴西里约热内卢市于2008年3月面临登革热疫情.
Mosquitoes help spread the disease.
蚊子有助于传播疾病。
What Is Being Done About Climate Change?
在气候变化方面做了些什么?
Because of the serious effects that climate change might have on human society and wildlife habitats, governments around the world are working on this problem.
由于气候变化可能对人类社会和野生动物栖息地产生严重影响,世界各国政府正在解决这一问题。
They have come up with plans to limit the possible effects of global warming.
它们制定了计划来限制全球变暖的可能影响。
Governments of most countries support a plan to limit global warming called the Kyoto Protocol.
大多数国家的政府支持一项名为《京都议定书》的遏制全球变暖计划。
This plan is named after the city in Japan where the first version of it was written in 1997.
这个计划以1997年写出第一个版本的日本城市命名.
According to the plan, industrialized countries will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by power plants, automobiles, and other sources.
根据该计划,工业化国家将减少由发电厂、汽车和其他来源排放的二氧化碳和其他温室气体。
Industrialized countries are those nations in which there is widespread use of machinery and fossil fuels.
工业化国家是那些广泛使用机械和矿物燃料的国家。
The greenhouse gas reductions have to be great enough to reach certain levels by certain dates, depending on the country.
温室气体的减少必须足够大,以便视国家而定,在一定日期之前达到一定水平。
An Indonesian student plants a tree as part of a climate conference campaign.
一位印尼学生种植一棵树作为气候会议运动的一部分.
As of 2010, the government of the United States had not approved the Kyoto Protocol.
截至2010年,美国政府尚未批准"京都议定书".
Some officials in the U.
吴国的一些官员.
S.
师曰.
government were concerned that the Kyoto Protocol might harm the U.
政府担心《京都议定书》可能会损害联合国。
S.
师曰.
economy.
经济。