VOA慢速英语2019 科学家对印度洋进行重大探索（在线收听）

Scientists Launch Major Exploration of Indian Ocean

Scientists are preparing to lead the first-ever major exploration operation in the Indian Ocean.

科学家正准备牵头进行印度洋的第一次重大勘探任务。

The exploration team is currently in Germany’s northern city of Bremerhaven. The scientists are loading equipment onto a large supply ship and making other final preparations.

该勘探组现在正在德国北部城市不来梅港。这些科学家正在将设备装上一艘巨大的供应船，同时也在做其他的收尾准备。

The effort, called the Nekton Mission, is expected to include a series of Indian Ocean expeditions over a three-year period. It will officially begin in the island nation of Seychelles in March. More than 40 organizations are supporting the exploration.

该勘探组计划完成至少50次勘探潜水任务，地点在非洲塞舌尔群岛，然后再去往其他地区。科学家将用7周时间为塞舌尔群岛附近水域的海床绘制地图。他们将通过潜水艇收集海洋生物的数据，并投掷传感器至2000米的深度。

The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean in the world. Yet it is still one of the largest masses in the world that remains unexplored.

Findings from the Nekton Mission could affect up to 2.5 billion people living in Indian Ocean areas for many years to come. The research will be a major part of discussions at a meeting on the state of the Indian Ocean, which is set for late 2021.

该勘探组现在正在德国北部城市不来梅港。这些科学家正在将设备装上一艘巨大的供应船，同时也在做其他的收尾准备。

The team plans to complete at least 50 exploration dives in the Seychelles before moving on to other areas. Researchers will spend seven weeks mapping the sea floor in waters around the Seychelles. They will use submarines to gather data about underwater life and drop sensors to depths up to 2,000 meters.

该勘探组计划完成至少50次勘探潜水任务，地点在非洲塞舌尔群岛，然后再去往其他地区。科学家将用7周时间为塞舌尔群岛附近水域的海床绘制地图。他们将通过潜水艇收集海洋生物的数据，并投掷传感器至2000米的深度。

They will be using many new technological tools. These will include new survey, sampling and video equipment, as well as artificial intelligence and controllable underwater vehicles.

他们还会用到许多新型科技工具，包括新型调研、取样、视频设备、人工智能以及可控水下工具。

The project’s goal is to learn as much as possible about the Indian Ocean’s ecosystem and how sea life has been affected by climate change. Currently, little is known about the waters below depths of 30 meters.

该项目的目标是尽可能多地了解印度洋的生态系统，以及海洋生物是如何受到气候变化影响的。目前，对于30米深的水域，人们也是知之甚少。

Mission officials say scientific leaders have called for enforced protection of at least 30 percent of the Indian Ocean by 2030. The Seychelles government has set a goal to protect 30 percent of its national waters by 2020.

此次任务的一些工作人员表示，多位科学领袖已经呼吁加强保护，对象是印度洋至少30%的部分，时限是在2030年之前。塞舌尔群岛政府已经设定了目标，即在2020之前保护到本国海域30%的部分。

Ronny Jumeau is the Seychelles’ ambassador to the United Nations. He told the Associated Press such research is extremely important in helping the island nation understand its huge ocean territory.

龙尼是塞舌尔群岛驻联合国大使。他在接受美联社采访时表示，这样的研究极为重要，可以帮助这个岛国了解其巨大的海洋领土。

Jumeau said the Seychelles aims to become a leader in the development of what he calls a “blue economy.” This is an economy that draws heavily on resources from the ocean. The Seychelles economy is already highly dependent on fishing and tourism. But more recently, the country began exploring possible oil and gas resources under the sea floor.

龙尼表示，塞舌尔群岛的目标是引领“蓝色经济”的发展。蓝色经济可以极大地拉动海洋资源。塞舌尔群岛的经济已经极度倚重渔业和旅游业。但最近，该国开始勘探可能的石油和燃气资源。

“Key to this is knowing not only what you have in the ocean around you, but where it is and what its value is,” Jumeau said. “It is only when you know this that you can properly decide what to exploit and what to protect and leave untouched.”

其关键不仅在于知道自己附近海域里有什么，还在于这些海底资源位于何处及其价值是什么，龙尼如是说道。只有知道了这些，才能够恰当地决定勘测什么、保护什么、绝对不碰什么。

The island nation is already feeling the effects of climate change. One example is that rising water temperatures have caused major damage to coral reefs in the area.

塞舌尔群岛已经感受到气候变化的影响了。其中一个例子就是水域温度上升已经导致该地区珊瑚礁遭受到重大破坏。

Words in This Story

expedition – n. group of people who travel together to a distant place

survey – n. examination of an area in which its measurements and details are recorded

artificial intelligence – n. ability of a machine to use and analyze data in an attempt to reproduce human behavior

ecosystem – n. everything that exists in a particular environment

properly – n. correctly, or in a satisfactory way

draw on - phrasal verb. to use (something) as a source or supply?

exploit – v. use someone in a way that helps you unfairly

coral reef – n. long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water (coral: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures)