机器人海洋车探索凯尔特海

Water Robots Explore the Celtic Sea 机器人海洋车探索凯尔特海

Scientists in England are using two self-directed water vehicles to explore the animal and plant life of the Celtic Sea.

The Celtic Sea is a body of water off the southern coast of Ireland. The area is known for its exceptional sea life. Scientists want to know why marine¹ animals are so attracted to this part of the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the research vehicles is powered by batteries. It collects information for the National Oceanography Center in Southampton, England, and the World Wildlife Fund. The vehicle’s low energy requirements permit it to stay afloat for up to 30 days. Reports of what it finds in the Celtic Sea are sent by satellite.

Stephen Woodward is an engineer who helped design the craft. He says the vehicle has equipment that can detect small organisms called zooplankton and fish. He adds that other sensing devices measure water currents and other features of sea life.

The vehicle also creates a two-dimensional map of the sea.

Another vehicle is powered by solar panels and a wind turbine. It can stay afloat for months.  The robotic vehicle sends information about the so-called biodiversity hotspots. A biodiversity hotspot is an area of an ocean that has a lot of plant and animal life activity.

Lavinia Suberg is one of the scientists studying the biodiversity of the Celtic Sea.

She says productive ocean areas, like the Celtic Sea, attract zooplankton. The zooplankton then attract fish. She adds that areas with a large increase of fish often attract sea mammals and birds.

Using these robotic ocean vehicles greatly reduces the cost of exploring the seas with manned laboratories. Scientists can spend more time analyzing³ the collected information. They say the research will give them a better understanding of the needs of the Celtic Sea for future management and protection.

Words in This Story

biodiversity – n. the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment

satellite – n. a machine that is sent into space and that moves around the earth, moon, sun, or a planet

zooplankton – n. plankton² composed of animals

two-dimensional -- adj. having or looking to have length and width, but not depth

wind turbine – n. a structure that has large blades attached to an engine and that is used to produce electricity

snorkel⁴ -- v. to swim and look underwater while breathing through a tube

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 plankton   

n.浮游生物

参考例句：

• Plankton is at the bottom of the marine food chain.浮游生物处于海洋食物链的最底层。
• The plankton in the sea feeds many kinds of animals. 海的浮游生物成为很多种动物的食物。

3 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

4 snorkel   

n.泳者所戴的通气管，潜水艇的吸、排气装置

参考例句：

• With a snorkel,however,a diver can stay under water for quite a long time.潜水员携带一根通气管就可以在水下呆很长时间。
• I did buy a mask and fins and a snorkel.我买了面镜、蛙鞋和一个呼吸管。