有关树林与二氧化碳之间关系的新学说

37 有关树林与二氧化碳之间关系的新学说

DATE=6-15-01
TITLE=ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Trees and Carbon Dioxide
BYLINE=Jill Moss¹

（Start at 59" ） This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Environment Report.
Scientists have long believed one way to stop the Earth's atmosphere from warming is by planting more trees.  The idea is that more trees will take in or (1) absorb some of the (2) carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Carbon dioxide is a gas (3) released by cars, factories and other human activities.  The gas (4) traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, which warms the planet.  However, two new studies have found that trees may not be as helpful in (5) reducing carbon dioxide as had been thought.  
The first study was done at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  Researchers (6) pumped extra carbon dioxide into a test area where pine trees were growing.   The trees grew thirty-four percent faster during the first three years.  However, in time, the trees slowed to about their normal growth rate.  The scientists say this is because trees need other (7) nutrients², such as (8) nitrogen. 
In the second study, researchers from Duke and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine examined the soil around trees. They discovered that as the leaves broke down into the soil, all the carbon was not trapped in the soil.  Much of it was released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. 
The findings of the two studies were published last month in Nature magazine.  They suggest there is limited value in planting trees to reduce the carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere. 
Forest planting has been a part of (9) negotiations³ on a world agreement to reduce greenhouse gases that scientists believe cause global warming.  The United States, Canada, Japan and some other industrial countries have supported the idea.  But this new research suggests the idea is not as (10) effective as environmental activists⁴ had thought.  Scientist Ram⁵ Oren of Duke University led the study on tree growth.  He says that earlier estimates on the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide were overly hopeful. 
Some scientists not involved in the studies say the research provides some of the first (11) evidence on how trees react to carbon dioxide.  Other scientists say the research (12) disputes a belief among some coal and power companies.  The companies say that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will not create harmful global warming.  Instead, they say it will increase forests and other plants. 
This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Steve Ember.

(1)  absorb [[b`sR:b] vt.吸收, 吸引
(2)  carbon dioxide n.[化]二氧化碳
(3) release [ri`li:s] vt.释放
(4) trap [trAp] vt. 使受限制
(5) reduce [ri`djU:s] vt.减少, 缩小
(6) pump [pQmp] vt.(用泵)抽(水), 抽吸
(7) nutrients [`njU:tri[nts] n. 营养物质
(8) nitrogen [ `naitr[dVEn] n.[化]氮
(9) negotiation [ni9gEUFi`eiF[n] n.商议, 谈判
(10) effective [i`fektiv] adj.有效的, 被实施的, 给人深刻印象, 有生力量
(11) evidence [ `evidEns] n.迹象, 根据
(12) dispute [dis`pjU:t] v.争论, 辩论n.争论, 辩论, 争吵

 

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。