时差N小时 地球磁场的变化(上)

You’re a polar explorer and you’ve just reached the north pole. The huskies are yapping, the cameras are ready and you’re just about to unfurl the flag when, all of a sudden, the north pole becomes the south pole. Imagine your chagrin¹. Okay, so it doesn’t really happen that fast, but it’s true that in the past the earth’s magnetic poles have switched places. In fact, it seems to happen roughly every 250,000 years or so. How do we know this? When lava² is in its molten state, the atoms in it can move around fairly easily. At this time some atoms, like iron, will align³ themselves with the earth’s magnetic field in a recognizable way. Then, as the lava solidifies⁴ into rock, these little compasses get frozen in position. It’s like writing your name in wet cement.

【参考译文】

你是名极地探险者，你刚刚到达北极。爱斯基摩犬在狂吠，相机已经准备好了，你正要展开旗帜，突然，北极变成了南极。想象下你的懊恼。事实上，磁场变换并没有那么快。但是在过去地球的磁场确实发生了变换，事实上，大概每25万年左右，磁场就要发生改变。我们是如何知道的？当熔岩处于融化状态时，其中的原子能轻易地移动。这时候，有些原子比如铁原子，以一种可识别的方式按照地球磁场的方向排列，当熔岩凝固成岩石时，这些小的指南针会在原地冷凝。这就像将你的名字写在湿的水泥上。

1 chagrin   

n.懊恼；气愤；委屈

参考例句：

• His increasingly visible chagrin sets up a vicious circle.他的明显的不满引起了一种恶性循环。
• Much to his chagrin,he did not win the race.使他大为懊恼的是他赛跑没获胜。

2 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

3 align   

vt.使成一线，结盟，调节；vi.成一线，结盟

参考例句：

• Align the ruler and the middle of the paper.使尺子与纸张的中部成一条直线。
• There are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals.有迹象表明首相正在与自由党人结盟。

4 solidifies   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的第三人称单数 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• Jelly solidifies as it gets cold. 肉冻冷却就凝固。
• It is stirred with 10%sodium carbonate solution(50ml)and then with water (50ml), after which It'solidifies. 与10％碳酸钠溶液（50毫升）混合搅拌，然后再用50毫升水混合搅拌，从而析出固体。