VOA科学技术2024--Study: Andean Glacier Shrinking at Speed Not Seen Before

A new study finds that the glaciers¹ across the Andes in South America are shrinking at a speed not seen before in the history of human civilization.

This discovery surprised scientists. At first, they only planned to study the current conditions of glaciers and how they changed through history.

"We thought this result was decades away," said Andrew Gorin. As lead writer of the study, he first thought the results were an accident. But later he and his team confirmed the results with more samples.

Gorin said that the shrinking of glaciers is happening even faster than experts had thought.

He and a team of scientists carbon-dated bedrock that had been recently exposed by shrinking glaciers. They measured beryllium-10 and carbon-14 nuclide levels and found that concentrations were nearly zero.

He explained that if the rock can "see the sky" it collects these nuclides. He added that the decay rate of these nuclides shows that the rock had not been exposed during the Holocene Era. This era dates back 11,700 years but could go back even further.

"I would bet my whole life savings² that in fact, these glaciers are smaller than they've been since the last interglacial period," Gorin said. The last interglacial period ended about 115,000 years ago.

The study collected data at four glaciers across the Andes. These glaciers make up 99 percent of the world's tropical glaciers. They are more affected³ by changing weather because they are regularly at or near freezing point.

"We think this is the canary in the coal mine, that this is going to happen everywhere before long and maybe sooner than we thought," Gorin said. (Canary in the coal mine is an expression that warns of danger. Coal miners would use a canary to tell if the oxygen levels in a coal mine were dangerous.)

Researchers published the new study in the journal Science on August 1.

Words in This Story

decade - n. a period of 10 years

sample - n. a part or thing that shows the quality of the whole or group

expose - v. to submit or make accessible to a particular action or influence

level - n. an amount of something especially in comparison with typical or expected amounts

concentration - n. the amount of an ingredient or part in relation to that of others

decay - v. to decline in health, strength, or vigor⁴

canary in the coal mine - an expression that warns of danger. Coal miners would use a canary to tell if the oxygen levels in a coal mine were dangerous.

1 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）

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。